DarcyLovesLiza

It takes a village…

Revisado: 07-09-25 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Story: 4.5 ⭐️s
Narration: 5 ⭐️s

There’s something genuinely comforting about diving into a Karen Grey series. Between crafting settings that invite, characters that compel, and plots that are unafraid to touch on relatable, relevant issues, there’s always a great deal to grab the reader. And the first book in Grey’s new Welcome to Climax series is no exception. It’s a widower single dad, workplace romance, with the solid mental health rep that is a hallmark of Grey’s brand.

Our MCs are single dad, Josh, and community eveywoman, Avery, who are thrown together to repurpose and rebuild the community programs at the local rec center, along with the center itself whose facilities could use some TLC. Josh works for a big shot tech bro with past ties to Climax, who’s looking to use his startup to revitalize the town (his reasons are somewhat mysterious, so Grey is definitely seeding the ground for his future story). And Avery is torn between preserving her mother’s legacy and knowing things need to change to better serve the community.

As in all Grey books, there is a compelling cast of secondary characters, including the aforementioned tech bro boss (Eli), Avery’s best gal pals Leia and Daisy (who give excellent support along with tough love when needed!), along with a few pop-ins from some old Farm-2-Forking favorites! She’s established another great setting in the town of Climax. It really feels like a community and the people that populate it are often more than meets the eye from the matchmaking mayor, to a seemingly gossipy activities director who is actually a bit of a sage and knows the name of every kid on the team. It all adds up to an enjoyable reading experience. And there is definitely enough here to spark reader interest to come back for subsequent installments.

Despite the lack of a past setting as in previous series, I think Grey has built the start of something really lovely here. She has deftly handled multiple aspects of grief, from the loss of a spouse, as well as grief one might feel for the loss of a vision of one’s imagined future. Josh has lost his wife and has very complicated feelings about that relationship which complicate his grief, plus he has two kids to raise. Then Avery is grieving what she expected her life to be, but also a little in denial about it; at the start she says she’s happy, but it’s definitely a case of “the lady doth protest too much methinks”. So each is on a path that makes it necessary that they see their situation anew. And for all their mutual attraction and off the charts chemistry, they have to work on themselves before they can make things work with each other. Grey is consistently adept at allowing her MCs to grow individually, but also towards one another in a way that makes for a meaningful connection.

I only had a minor quibble with this story and that was because there was a little too much snowballing in the third act. Third act pacing is a pet peeve for me, and I can find it distracting when it feels like resolutions fall together rather than weave together. However, this by no means detracts from the appeal of the characters, the setting, or what Grey has begun to build with this new series. I very much look forward to the next installments and absolutely can’t wait to hear this one in audio. I’m sure the production with be amazing, as always.

Overall, I definitely recommend the TSDGtR. Whether you’re a Karen Grey fan, or you simply appreciate a story where two people just trying to keep all the balls in the air while making room for their own needs find their match, you won’t regret giving this one a go.

I am grateful to have received an advance reader copy via the author. All opinions are my own. (ARC April 2025)

ALC Addendum - July 2025

TSDGtR audiobook is another top-notch Karen Grey production. Carly Robins and Grayson Owens take on the roles of Avery and Josh and they have delivered some fine performances. Robins was was definitely the standout for me. She was a perfectly cast Avery, and able to embody her traits from flustered and funny moments to those that were more revelatory and pathos-centric. All the elements of Avery that Grey brought to the page, Robins embodied in a performance that shows why she’s one of the best narrators around. She made me love Avery and the entire Climax cast of characters even more than reading the book the first time around. Owens also did a good job, but I do have to confess that I found his performance slightly less engaging than Robin’s at times. This mostly came down to some of his accent work for some secondary characters that just didn’t work for me. However, when he was in character as Josh, he was great. He nailed the humor and the lovely dad moments. He was sexy when he needed to be and caring and blundering and all the traits that make Josh an endearing MMC. Overall listening to this audio makes me look forward to returning to Climax for the next book and beyond. This is another Karen Grey audio banger and is absolutely worth a listen!

I’m grateful to have received an ALC copy of the audiobook via Home Cooked Books. All opinions expressed are my own.

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An appealing romantic suspense…

Revisado: 04-27-25 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Book 3 in Carothers’s Love over Murder series has Sean Cartwright and Lowri Upton (BFFs to Evan and Cassie from book 1) return to take on the MC roles. While RC is the conclusion to this trilogy of stories, Carothers seems to have dropped some breadcrumbs to follow some of the secondary characters into a spin-off. Throughout the series, she’s shown a knack for layering the secondaries in such a way that makes this a successful practice and that trend continues here. On top of that, the book works well on its own terms, and made for an enjoyable romantic suspense outing. When the setup and payoff of the suspense plot came together, I found it to be a satisfying conclusion.

Sean and Lowri made a great team, both romantically as well as in hoe they come together to handle the mystery plot as a team. These two felt like a more believable “sleuthing” duo than prior couples, maybe because there wasn’t a royal subplot happening concurrently. Instead there are more grounded tropes to anchor the characters. First there is some “we’ve already been together and can’t forget each” physical attraction vying with their mutual, yet differently motivated, commitment-averse attitudes. Then things shift, and I enjoyed the variation on waking up married, because it wasn’t the typical approach. Finally, the morph into a marriage of convenience (albeit one-sided) made for some interesting tension; and the fact that the particulars of that didn’t snowball out into an overly typical third act misunderstanding was a pleasant surprise. It seems like a lot trope-wise, but I thought Carothers’s struck a consistent balance throughout. Plus these MCs are just so darn likable, and I had a good time following their love story. They had a nice balance between heat and companionship that made their connection feel believable.

The audiobook was very good. Kit Swann’s and Robert Hatchet’s performances were fine matches for their characters and for each other. Swann has a smoky voice that fit Lowri across the varied scenarios and emotions throughout the book; I found her delivery compelling. And Hatchet was a great Sean; he was successfully able to hit the blend of confidence, humor, and sexiness of Carothers’s MMC. Working together and with Carothers’s words, both narrators delivered an exceptional listening experience.

With appealing MCs, strong narrator performances, and a solid romantic suspense plot, book 3 in Carothers’s Love over Murder series is well worth a listen.

I’m grateful to have received an ALC copy of the audiobook via Home Cooked Books. I also read the book via KU. All opinions expressed are my own.

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When Hendrix met Raven…

Revisado: 04-23-25 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I’m happy to be back with the Bradford‘s. This time around Hendrix and his former wedding hookup and friend to Dylan, Raven, take the field. Overall, this is a good addition to the series, however, every series must include a least favorite book, and TWWC might be mine. Now, even a least favorite Bradford book is still a fun book, so that’s not really a total negative. For me, there were just a couple things in book 4 that didn’t measure up to its predecessors. Basically my disappointment comes down to the recycling of the oops baby trope, but more significantly, to there being not enough New Hope and Bradford family shenanigans in the book. I know that Hendrix’s arc is all about his movement from a life dominated by career/legacy towards more balance, which necessitates the L.A. setting. But the New Hope setting and the Bradford family and friend dynamics are a major reason I love this series. More L.A. means less New Hope,and I couldn’t help wishing for more scenes of the whole gang together. So, while I by no means had a bad experience, there were just less of elements(read characters) I love about the series in this book compared to others.

The MCs were definitely a plus. Hendrix begins the story with a specific set of priorities, which, though that made him hard to like at first, make his development that much more engaging in the end. And though there were a few points where I wanted better for Raven and Haddy, he comes through and finds that life needs to be more than just professional legacy. Raven was great. She had a real passion for meteorology and using it to help people. Her experiences growing up and out of the pageant circuit, the harshness of her mother, and lack of understanding from her father, were heartbreaking. Thank goodness for her sister! And she ultimately finds a champion in Hendrix. The support system they create for each other (and Haddy) is lovely; they make a sweet little family unit. I loved how they tried to be just friends and coparents at first, and simply couldn’t fight the feeling.

Though there wasn’t enough extended Bradford family interaction for me, the scenes Louise did provide were wonderful. I enjoyed the surprise party when H and R finally make it back to New Hope and the epilogue was super cute. They were good interactions, I just wanted more. Call me greedy, I guess. 😂

The audiobook was another excellent production. Aaron Shedlock and Stefanie Kay did a great job. Shedlock was a great match for Hendrix’s energy and the shifts in character as the book progressed came across really well. Kay was a wonderful Raven, equally adept at portraying her strength as well as her vulnerability. This was yet another instance of great duet casting for the series, and keeps me excited about what or who may be to come. I have been waiting for Jack and Allie’s story from the jump, so I hope whoever takes on book 5 maintains the fabulous momentum set by previous narrators across the series.

Ultimately, despite the lack of New Hope, this was a good listen. And I am super excited for Jack and Allie next!

I’m grateful to have received an ALC copy of the audiobook via Home Cooked Books. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Narrator performances outshine story…

Revisado: 04-19-25 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Story: 3.75 ⭐️s
Narration: 5 ⭐️s

Book 2 in Carothers’s Love over Murder series has Prince Xander (older brother to Evan) take center page as he attempts to advocate for environmental protection measures, find a suitable bride, and foil an assassination plot. Add an FMC, Ariana, at a life crossroads, as a PR pro who is also a wannabe romance novelist, and there is a lot happening in RD.

I thought the set up for the story was initially well established. The bride-search-on-a-deadline trope is always fun, and I was curious how the romantic suspense would come in to play. I also enjoy that Ariana and Xander know each other, but don’t realize that they do, which establishes an interesting tension. However, in the case of RD, that tension becomes a bomb that, when it detonates in act three, is not effectively deployed. I think that given how much else is going on with the plot, it just felt out of place by that point. So, it became more typical third act misunderstanding rather than a more interesting choice and paled with the higher stakes of the suspense plot. For me, the fact that there are so many plot elements at play didn’t really leave space for Carothers to develop the pieces in a way that felt fully cooked. Pacing was a bit of an issue because so much was set up. And while I found the elements individually interesting, the attempt to weave everything together did not work as well for me as I expected at the start.

This is a shame because I really liked the characters. Xander and Ariana were a great pair; I just felt that their (re)connection was a bit rushed because there was so much other plot that had to happen. There was a lot of telling vs showing, especially towards the end. And some of that telling struck me like scenes that should have been built and shown rather than exposition that was told, not only for plot reasons but also for character ones.

This was a case where the audiobook went a long way to smooth the rough edges of the story. The narrators are excellent and listening to the book upped my reading enjoyment. John Hartley is delicious here. I’ve enjoyed his work for a long time; he has performed in many of my favorite Kristen Ashley books, and to hear him in this was a delight. He was a great match for Xander, portraying the charisma a prince should probably have. And, of course, his signature gruff sexiness is just *chef’s kiss*. Stefanie Nemeth-Parker gave a wonderful performance as Ariana. I thought her delivery brought out all the best of the character, and was consistently able to show Ariana’s appeal. Together, both narrators just did a wonderful job.

If you’re enjoying Carothers’s series, absolutely give RD a listen. As with the previous book, the second epilogue teed-up the next book, and I am very intrigued because it’s Sean (Evan‘s friend), and I’ve been curious about him since book one. I will definitely return for that story.

I’m grateful to have received an ALC copy of the audiobook via Home Cooked Books. I also read the book via KU. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Steamy romantic suspense…

Revisado: 04-11-25 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Carothers’s first book in her Love over Murder series does what effective first books in a series should do - provide its own engaging story while also laying the ground and character work for books to follow. First up is Evan - a literal Prince in disguise - and Cassie, a lawyer who would rather be a chef.

Both Evan and Cassie are compelling characters who are each at a crossroads in their lives. Cassie‘s dissatisfied career- she’s been following her parents’ dreams rather than her own, and so takes an opportunity to follow her passion. She’s loved to cook, so when her best friend encourages her to sign up for the amateur slot in a cooking competition, she takes a chance. Luckily, she gets chosen as the alternate (if anything should happen to any of the other contestants, she can take over their spot so the show can go on) and heads to Vegas. Wonder what will happen there? Evan is also trying to find his path. His brother is about to ascend to the throne, and Evan feels like his life is just a series of a Royal obligations that don’t match his passions or interests. So he goes to visit his friend in Las Vegas to clear his head and get some advice. While there he lends a hand with the competition and he and Cassie hit it off. What follows is some murder mystery, false accusations, secret royal identities, and passion. It’s it all woven together for an enjoyable romantic suspense story.

The narration from Shane East and Samantha Brentmoor is fantastic. Both of performers are a great match to their characters, as well as a great match as co-stars. Brentmoor is one of my absolute favorites and no one plays a sexy, reluctant royal quite like East. I really enjoyed listening to them bring this story to life. And I definitely recommend this audio to anyone who likes their romance steamy with a side of suspense. I’m very much looking forward to the next book in the series, as Carothers laid some very interesting groundwork for Evan’s brother in that bonus epilogue!

I’m grateful to have received an ALC copy of the audiobook via Home Cooked Books. I also read the book via KU. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Combo of narration, romance and suspense goes down smooth…

Revisado: 04-09-25 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Story: 4.5 ⭐️s
Narration: 5 ⭐️s

This was my first Victoria Wilder book and I really enjoyed it. B&L is the first in the Bourbon Boys series and, as such, lays some solid groundwork for the stories to come. Wilder sets up the Foxx family and their dynamic, along with the Fiasco setting in a way that makes the reader/listener want to keep on going with the series. Throw in some forced proximity, FMC-in-hiding, along with hot brothers and a hero dog, and you have a few of my favorite things.

MCs Grant and Laney are a compelling pair. Laney’s in hiding because she was in the wrong place at the right time to help someone, and it cost her. Her actions in that inciting incident (which we get in flashback) says volumes about her character. She does the right thing even when it’s hard. She’s also feisty, funny, caring, and really good at what she does. She becomes an asset to the Foxx brothers’ business all while getting under the skin and into the heart of one of them. Grant Foxx is a former cop turned lead cooper for the family distillery, with a traumatic past and mile-wide protective streak. He’s also got a wonderful former police dog sidekick. Julep is everything that I love in a canine character - brave, loving, sweet. And in prime Romancelandia fashion, she perfectly exemplifies the guy can’t help but fall for a girl once his dog has fallen for her mini-trope. There’s a really good balance throughout the whole between the romance and the tension of the suspense that has pushed Laney into hiding. And, we come to find, also has connections to part of Grant’s cop past. The physical chemistry between Grant and Laney is just holy hotness Batman! But Wilder also leaves room for humor and playfulness, not only between the MCs, but throughout the story as a whole. I appreciated that balance between what could have been disparate plot elements in a lesser story.

The Foxxs as a family unit are also compelling. The patriarch, Griz, is a delight; and Grant’s brothers, Atticus and Lincoln, are well-poised to fall into their own stories. Friend of the family, Hadley, has delicious tension with Atticus - excited for that pair! And Lincoln has two adorable littles, that lay groundwork for what could be a fabulous widower dad romance with a yet to be determined FMC. There’s a family “curse” to overcome and I am here for it.

The narration is excellent. An author can’t go wrong when they get Samantha Brentmoor and Connor Crais to narrate their book. They are among the best of the best audiobook performers. I consider Brentmoor a shining star, who I will follow into just about any story, even when I have little interest in the plot. Luckily this time around there was a lot of great story and character to go along with her performance, and they just fed off one another. She and Crais are a great duo. He was a wonderful Grant; sexy, gruff, funny and endearing all at once. Crais is really good at that combo. I just ate up every minute of this audio. Plus it’s duet! The experience of feeling as though Crais and Brentmoor were interacting directly was even more compelling than had they been just trading off chapters.

Overall, B&L gets a high recommendation, especially if you enjoy some suspense in your small town romance, with well-drawn MCs brought to life through fantastic narration.

I’m grateful to have received an ALC copy of the audiobook via Home Cooked Books. I also read the book via KU. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Monty and Lark’s at bat…

Revisado: 03-24-25 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I’ve been looking forward to Monty‘s story! Dan ‘Monty’ Montgomery is just so lovable. He’s been such a supportive friend and teammate throughout the series, so to see him get his HEA with the lady of his dreams was just lovely. The connection between Monty and Lark was well-developed. And in the beginning, when he is feeling deeply for her, but maintaining boundaries because he values their friendship and respects her engagement really showed his character and integrity. I love that he was willing to be whatever Lark needed, even when that was purely platonic. But the fact that she came to feel the same way for him was all the sweeter.

Lark was also a pretty great character. She’s got admirable ambitions and is really good at her job. She’s at a bit of a crossroads; after moving through her personal life in a way that was expected and family-approved, she’s reached a point where that’s kind of untenable. To witness her come to the realization that she has to do what’s best for her and that might not necessarily be what her family wants - that’s a hard position to be in and she handles it well. The growth of her connection to Monty from friendship to love is beautiful. Overall their romance is just very sweet and reading/listening to this book was comforting and it just felt like a warm hug.

The story is low on angst which I appreciate. Sometimes it’s just nice to have a story that is puts more emphasis on the journey of a relationship without too much external conflict. And while there is some initial tension of how Lark will handle her engagement to a guy who’s not right for her, the bulk of the story was very much on how she and Monty navigate their relationship. Jarrett is working with some enjoyable tropes - there’s some he’s-loved-for-ages; a virgin hero.; friends to lovers. There is another that crops up later on, and though not a trope I typically enjoy, was still well-executed. As with previous books, the development of the rest of the Tridents continues to build; each installment makes me want to hear the next guy’s story.

The audiobook was a good listen and is narrated by Victoria Connolly and Tim Paige. Paige is a narrator whose previous work I have often enjoyed. He’s always a fun narrator - you feel the happiness and the joy in his delivery; so, he was a great fit for Monty as his delivery matched Jarret’s rendering and added to the characters’s appeal. Connolly is a new-to-me narrator; she did a good job with Lark. Her performance fit the character, especially the inner thoughts, where I thought her delivery added appealing nuance. It’s interesting because Lark is at the beginning of her career trajectory and Monty knows he’s heading towards the end of his, so their professional lives are in two different places. However, these are also both transitional moments and I thought that both narrators successfully captured the work of navigating those personal crossroads while also delivering on the romantic connection between the MCs.

Overall, CHH was a fine addition to Jarrett’s Vancouver Trident series, and I recommend it to anybody who loves a sweet baseball romance. Looking forward to the next!

I’m grateful to have received an ALC copy of the audiobook via Home Cooked Books. I also read the book via KU. All opinions expressed are my own.

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All of my love for the narrators and characters…

Revisado: 02-27-25 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Story: 3.5 ⭐️s
Narration: 5 ⭐️s

I love a rockstar romance, especially when redemption is the driving factor. Having read other Lauren Rowe books in this story’s sphere, I was intrigued to see how she would redeem Caleb “C-bomb” Baumgarten in Finding Home.

A parent trying to do better for their kid, a custody battle, grieving a parent, nascent and found families, these are all elements I find compelling. There are some great scenes where Rowe’s characterization of Caleb is poignant and heartbreaking. The scene where he has his home interview with the social worker was pitch perfect, as are his interactions with his daughter, Raine. And while I could have done without the age gap between the MCs, the FMC Aubrey is also a very well-drawn, engaging character. Her grounded determination and genuine care when it comes to doing right by Raine (and Claudia) is so lovely. She is definitely someone you would want in your corner. Plus I love her unabashed love of pop, but also very much enjoy how Caleb was able to make a Led Zeppelin fan out of her and Raine.

Separately, these are two solid MCs. However, when it comes to their romance, the story didn’t work as well for me. It felt much more sexual chemistry forward than emotional connection forward and it never really balanced out enough for me. The emotional aspect felt a bit insta-love, which seemed incongruous with some of the better-developed story elements around them - their united front in the custody battle, their different perceptions of Claudia, etc. I couldn’t help but long for more scenes that would make me more clearly understand their couple connection beyond the bedroom and beyond their mutual love for Raine.

Overall, I am glad to have listened to the audiobook of FH. It is a perfectly cast production, and a shining example of how a great audiobook can shore up the less effective parts of a story. It’s also further proof of why Andi Arndt is a queen among narrators. She embodied Aubrey, skillfully bringing out the lovely layers of Rowe’s FMC. Every encounter I have with Arndt, makes me excited for the next. Sean Masters was a fantastic Caleb; he had the gruff protectiveness, the broody sexiness, but also the vulnerable guy who just wants to be better, even when it’s hard. Masters is a narrator I have been encountering more and more, and his skills continue to grow on me. I also loved that this was a duet audio; the performers gel so well, it added significantly to my FH experience. This one definitely belongs up with the best of the Lauren Rowe audios, and I do recommend listening.

I’m grateful to have received an ALC copy of the audiobook via Home Cooked Books. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Fake dating turns real…

Revisado: 02-27-25 El oyente recibió este título gratis

In book 2 of Julia Jarrett’s Vancouver Tridents baseball series, she takes on the fake dating turns real trope with enjoyable results. Maverick and Sadie both have traits that make this kind of story work - he’s got a lot of anger, she’s learning to take charge of her life; both have unresolved issues that complicate their getting together. It all checks the boxes, but there are also elements here that set FtG apart from other fake dating books. The recipe may be similar, but the results are different, and that’s what I enjoyed about the book.

Third baseman, Maverick King, was in hot water at the end of book one and as his own story opens, he’s still there. He’s got amends to make, and it trying to, when a misread encounter with Sadie LeDuc, head of fundraising for the children’s hospital, jumpstarts their journey from fake dating to rehab his rep, to the real thing. Maverick is gruff but also has a bit of savior complex. Sadie has a ton of patience and kindness and believes is second chances - except (very understandably) for her cheating d-bag ex. Her qualities make her the best person to help Mac see what is possible and that keeping people at a distance may keep you safe from abandonment, but it will also keep you lonely. They were a great couple, and while the third act separation felt obligatory rather than organic, it doesn’t last too long nor detract too much from the heart of the MC’s connection.

Compared to book one, Jarrett has definitely upped her team dynamic game. There were a lot more interactions between the Trident players and seeing Mav grow closer to his teammates as his relationship with Sadie makes him more open to connections was great. I hope the team dynamics continue to grow as the series progresses. Now that this book has shown us more of the players, I am much more intrigued by their potential stories.

The audiobook for book two was a slight let down compared to book one. Connor Crais as Ronan is a hard act to follow, and it took me a while to warm up to Dane Anderson’s portrayal of Maverick. Anderson’s performance did grow on me, though it took several chapters, and he ultimately did a good job with balancing Maverick’s anger and vulnerability. However, one thing I did not get used to was his female voice; while not as grating as other male narrator attempts, there were still times when it threw me out of the moment to hear him be Sadie. This is definitely an audio where I would have appreciated duet narration. The best part of the audiobook is Heather Firth; she’s definitely the standout for me and was a wonderful Sadie. Firth brought the perfect blend of strength and kindness to the character and really added something to the chapters from Sadie’s p.o.v. She turns in a solid performance.

I do recommend the FtG audiobook; Jarrett’s Trident world is beginning to expand in interesting ways,and I am here for it.

I’m grateful to have received an ALC copy of the audiobook via Home Cooked Books. I also read the book via KU. All opinions expressed are my own.

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❤️ And now it’s Judd’s turn…

Revisado: 02-07-25 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Story 4.5 ⭐️s
Narration: 4 ⭐️s

To say I’ve been eagerly anticipating Judd Sylver’s story is an understatement. I’ve been on tenterhooks waiting for this one, and now that it’s here all I can say is well done Ms Dunbar! And despite some trope overlap with past books and undercooked external conflict, the way Judd and Genie’s story unfolded was a joy to me.

I loved that this book’s plot allowed the MCs so much time together. There was all this wonderful space for them to be one-to-one and to renew their connection. While there is a lot of steam between Judd and Genie, their intimacy never felt rushed or overdone. And though there are shades of second chance here, it felt different from Knox and Halle, because unlike them, Genie and Judd never truly got their first chance. There’s also some fun overlap with the fake fiancé trope that added humor and angst, which I was surprised to find worked for me. There’s lighthearted banter, but also this exploration of underlying grief brought on by the loss of a parent. Both Judd and Genie are dealing with their own version of it, and the unfolding is beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. Five books in, we already know that the Sylver clan had it rough growing up, and each story reveals more devastating details to the picture of their past. The series began and it was a blurry family portrait, but each story has made each individual Sylver sibling clearer, along with the whole.

The secondary cast of the Sylver clan are still wonderful and my love for them, and their family dynamic, only grows. I thought there were some great scenes of dinners and the family coming together to support Judd (and Genie!). It’s just a family portrait I love returning to.

With book 5, the weaker elements boil down to some lackluster external conflicts, in this case with Judd’s obnoxious ex-girlfriend, Heather, and Genie’s self-centered mother. Both started out fine, but by the time the story wrapped up, those tensions kind of fell away. Ultimately, I was almost grateful for the brushing aside of those external factors, because it left room for such a tight focus on Judd and Genie building their connection.

The audiobook was very good. Erin Mallon is her usual best, and turns in a wonderful performance as Genie. This is a character with a charming blend of heart, vulnerability, and quirks, and there are few narrators who portray that blend as well as Mallon. Ryan West as Judd was also good. While I found his portrayal less engaging than Mallon, he still fit the bill for the brooding but tender Judd very well. Together the narrators make the audio well worth a listen.

All told, SF is an enjoyable story of love and reconnection, as well as another wonderful addition to Dunbar’s Sterling Falls series. Again, I’m looking forward to the next while at the same time being sad that there are not many more Sylver siblings to go!

I received an ALC copy of the audiobook via Home Cooked Books and read via KU. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

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