OYENTE

SandyK

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This might be my favourite in the series

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-26-25

I'm really good at reading books out of order. I listened to this one first then went back and worked my way through the series because I loved it.

No doubt about it, Banks - the youngest one in the Carmichael family - has the survival instinct of a snowflake in a blast furnace. The mischief he gets into, the pranks he plays on his brothers? Good grief. Still, he explains why he does it all and it's actually kinda cute.

Banks is one of the town hotties who has a much older woman he sees for lunch, gets oggled on my the other ladies in the retirement home, but basks in the attention in between pranking his brothers. Then he steps up and does the right thing by Sara who needs help when she's in a bind. And then one thing leads to another because OF COURSE.

You know the HEA is only a matter of time, but there are laughs along the way with some family heartache (Sara's), which makes the end result all the sweeter. The Carmichael is the BEST.

This book has delightful character development, a well-paced storyline and plenty of laughs along the way. The audible narration takes a wonderful book and makes it even better, all thanks to Jacob Morgan and Mackenzie Cartwright.

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Sublime

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 03-14-25

In a word: Obsessed.

This story is a slow burn of an FMC with social awkwardness and overthinking, and a cool-headed Swede who knows exactly what and who he wants. We should all be so lucky.

Two twenty-somethings exploring their desires with each other within mutually respected boundaries, and it's just as good as you think it will be. The spice was just right, but what was even more satisfying is how they got there.

Pen, the ex-girlfriend and new best friend was a complicated character. She's someone used to rejection and assumed that she could keep Lukas on the backburner if things didn't work out, while enjoying a friendship with Scarlett. This, while freely admitting that they have outgrown each other. Meanwhile, Scarlet isn't used to having a best friend and so puts Pen on a pedestal, often to the detriment of the developing relationship with Lukas.

When the revelation and confrontation inevitably happens, it's the wakeup call for Pen who has not respected (or wanted to listen to) what Lukas had clearly told her, and has glossed over what Scarlett had been trying to say. As maddening as that is I couldn't find it in my heart to hate her because she's early 20s and insecure, we've all been there.

Lukas as a MMC is sublime. Clear headed and open in his communication, knows what he wants, sets goals and achieves them. What's why he's a title holder, medal winner and fielding colleges left and right. That his self-discipline bleeds through into his sex life is not all that surprising, and I found his honesty with Scarlett to be oh-so-refreshing.

The audio narration on this is completely and utterly brilliant from Theresa Plummer and Ben Holtzmuller, whose accent work was flawless. I finished listening, and promptly went back to the beginning to start again. I want the hard copy as a book trophy, and I will shout my love for this book from the rooftops.

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Another winner from Sarina Bowen

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 02-22-25

I've got a lot of love in my heart for Sarina's hockey series, and this was a lovely addition to the series. I'm not sure if this is a trilogy, but I'm kinda hoping there might be another one in the series at some stage. Maybe that's just me being greedy.

Jethro is a player who might be coming to the end of his career, and a last minute trade with next to no notice is the last thing he needs because not only is he the legal guardian of his nephew, but his sister is in rehab and his father is a recovering alcoholic. Oh and the team he's going to? That's coached by Clay, the guy he was really hot and heavy for when they were both starting their hockey careers. It really is one of those record scratch "I suppose you're wondering how I ended up here" moments.

Their attraction got put on ice due to a situation that neither of them had a chance to address way back when, so they are reunited with a whole lot of assumptions and hurt feelings. That takes a backseat to the attraction that has been waiting to boil over once they're in each other's vicinity again. There's some homophobia on the side, and a coming out scene that is really well dealt with, particularly as an example to doing it in front of a younger person, who is way more accepting than the older generation.

Anyways, this is a great second-chance romance, and if you liked the previous two, you'll love this one. That's a given. I adored it.

Narrated by Teddy Hamilton & JF Harding - what a great pair!

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In a word, Stefan.

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 02-08-25

I'm kinda late to the Elsie Silver party, so this is only the second title that I've listened to so far. It was oh so good, and it had all the tropes to tinkle my fancy:

- he falls first
- misunderstood bad guy
- small town romance
- perfect spice
- he defends her to her (extended) family

Actually that last piece was brilliant, particularly given it was the whole "sure you've got a career you love but nothing's compares to having a kid, and when are you doing that?".

Stefan knew he wanted Mira the moment he met her, but she's best friends with his apparent nemesis family so that's a slight problem. Then the other family desperately needs help saving one of their new foals, and he's in a position to oblige, but not before he gets Mira to agree to going on three dates with him. The way Stefan's character is slowly revealed layer by layer is thoughtfully done, and Mira's position in the town and within her family was also done really well. They're both independent people who are misunderstood, but they've made their peace with that - and then they find each other.

Beautiful back story with the foal, and I really appreciate the veterinary life also showed the challenging moments as well.

Zachary Webber and Soneela Nankini gave a masterful performance in this - their voices are so complimentary. It's dual narration and excellently done.

Kudos to everyone involved, this will be a repeat listen when I want a pick-me-up.

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LOVE!

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 02-07-25

I had no clue about the series but that was no hindrance because I absolutely loved this interconnected & standalone novella!

I listened to the audiobook, and the narrators and graphic audio/sound engineering was superb. It was sweet, snarky and oh-do-spicy. Jacob and Jaclyn were fantastic in this story. The bickering back and forth, their mutual competitiveness and their history from childhood made for a really satisfying story. Even better when the MMC never thought he'd stand a chance. Ah yes, the good old 'one good f**k to get her out of my system and then I'll be good to go'. That went exactly as expected of course, and it was delightful.

Small town, everyone else can see the writing on the wall for these two, but the pair of them were in denial because they didn't want to lose the rivalry or whatever. They were both hot to trot from puberty so it was a very long, very sarcastic burn, which made their destination all the more satisfying. On every level. Just sayin'.

And now I want funnel cakes without properly understanding what they are.

A delight from start to finish, and kudos to the narrators, they did a fantastic job.

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Great read, Fantastic audio!

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 02-07-25

We're introduced to the FMC, Aubrey, when she's just finished a half-marathon. She's exhausted and feeling fantastic about what she's done and looking to achieve more. Cue the patronising boyfriend who is in direct contrast with the loving support she gets from her family. Wolf, the MMC makes his appearance not long after at a family BBQ, because he's a friend of her brother. He sees an interaction she has with the boyfriend and that's all he needs to hear to know the guy is so many types of wrong.

That sequence of events sets things in play for the rest of the story. Wolf basically stalks Aubrey from then on, but engineers things so that she appears to be making decisions of her own free will. That might be poor phrasing on my part, but he certainly sets up offers and opportunities for her when she needs them, and will be of great benefit to her. She always has the option to say no of course, but Wolf is on the periphery and too compelling to resist.

Aubrey is a strong FMC who was to have a thoughtful and positive impact on the world with her work. She's also a curvy, athletic woman, and what a great representation that is. I was taken by her noticing the other women at work were decidedly NOT like her, but without the insecurity. She notices it as a 'hmmm', calls it out to a couple of people, and then just gets on with things. She's comfortable in her own skin, and I love that for her.

There's a whole lot of stuff that happens that I won't describe here because spoilers. Suffice to say there is a HEA after some angst on both their parts - and rightly so. It's fascinating when Wolf's backstory comes out, and we get the explanation for his need for control.

I read this book first on kindle, but had to grab the audio version to see what it was like and in short, WOW. Andi Eloise and Brandon Francis take this story to a whole new level. This book was a great read, and an even better listen. Kudos to the author for this pairing, because Andi and Brandon did a fantastic job.

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Sweet & Sad, but with HEA

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 02-03-25

I really enjoyed this storyline, which had an incurrent of sadness running throughout it. All the while I kept waiting for the other shoe ... wait, the other cowboy boot, to drop. The were revelations on the MMC's side that took a while to come out, and their initial clashes were entirely understandable.

The FMC was in Texas under sufferance, trying to coax one of the label's biggest stars into returning to the stage (and a nice, plump contract) in exchange for a promotion into the job she thinks she's always wanted.

City girl gets to small town, MMC is prickly and defensive, she doesn't back down. They start talking, she meets his friends and sees how his small town regards him (just one of the guys), and preconceptions need to get recalibrated on both sides. And of course the inevitable happens, and of course its hot. Absolutely maddening third act situation with some miscommunication that is thankfully short-lived, a very surprising revelation, and then the very satisfying conclusion and even better epilogue.

Thank you, CW Farnsworth for not drawing out the drama just to drive the plot. It was a nice addition without driving me up the wall! As always, mad props to the always-winning combination of Zach Webber and Andi Arndt. Stories are always in safe hands with those two at the helm.

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Great book 2, I'm looking forward to Book 3

Total
3 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
3 out of 5 stars
Historia
3 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 02-02-25

This is an entertaining trilogy, and the progression of the why choose relationship is ramping up.

More family secrets are uncovered; the paperwork River had to sign on her eighteenth birthday REALLY come to light, as well as the revelation about Bishop. So we've got two brothers, Crosse and Spencer with River, and now Bishop, who despite not wanting to be touched, can really come up with a workaround when he needs to.

The plot is not writ-large, and by that I mean the signposts aren't obvious. I'm enjoying the gradual reveal and surprise twists and progressions. The spice is spicing, and the narration is top tier. I'm already looking forward to the final instalment to see how all these threads are tied up.

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Interesting story

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 02-01-25

I'm used to Sadie's mafia stories, so this one was an interesting departure. Great cast of narrators, good world-building, and I'm liking the way the details are revealed bit by by instead of info-dumping.

The vampires were biting, the spice was spicing, and the little Pyro is going to be quite the surprise when all is revealed, which I'm guessing is in book two - ARGH!

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Sweet story

Total
3 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
3 out of 5 stars
Historia
3 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 01-27-25

This is a sweet story about what happens when you think you know what you want in life, and then something else entirely drops into your lap.

January and Liam are two single parents approaching parenting from opposite ends of the spectrum. January has a 15 year old and can almost taste the freedom of having an adult daughter. Liam has a 7 year old son he's only just discovered he has, and now that he's realising he missed out on the first 7 years he finds himself wanting to have the experience from scratch. Liam has moved to a small town to help his father's veterinary practice and ready to jump into the dating pool with a few to having a family. Sounds like a great plan, except he meets his neighbour January and the chemistry is instant.

Ahh the pleasure of a book where the characters are adults, (mostly) know what they want and have established, independent lives. There is some third act introspection, but without the melodrama and miscommunication. They're both clear with each other about what they do and don't want ... but ARE they? Hmm. This one was a pleasure to listen to, and of course the narration by Vanessa Edwin and Shane East is a delightful pairing.

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