✱✱Audio Book Review✱✱ Mr. Heartbreaker by Piper Rayne

 

Mr. Heartbreaker

The Nest, Book 1

By: Piper Rayne

Narrated by: Sean Masters & Erin Mallon 

Also featuring: Connor Crais, JF Harding, Troy Duran, Teddy Hamilton, CJ Bloom

I made a deal with my brother a long time ago to never date his teammates.

Technically, Rowan Landry, the hot as hell center for the Chicago Falcons, is no longer my brother’s teammate. Or his best friend. Their college days are long behind them, and they barely talk now.

Also, I’m not dating him—we’re just sleeping together. There’s a difference.

Except there’s not a lot of sleeping going on, and neither one of us wants to stop what we’re doing.

It’s all fun and games until my brother is traded to the Falcons, because Rowan doesn’t know I’m the new goalie’s little sister. Oops.

Momma Says: 5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Take some fun tropes like hockey romance, best friend's sibling, mistaken identity, and secret romance, add in some found family, a meet cute, and some fantastic characters created by Piper Rayne, then mix all of that with a stellar group of narrators for some duet narration, and you've got Mr. Heartbreaker. This book is an absolute blast, which is nothing short of what I've come to expect from the duo that makes up Piper Rayne. The dialogue is witty and fun, as well as sexy and swoony, and the characters are so well done that they practically leap off the page or through the headphones, as the case may be. Rowan and Kyleigh are so good together that you can't help but root for their HEA. We also have a whole cast of characters that are just as lovable - okay, maybe not Kyleigh's brother at first, but a redeemable antagonist is so much fun, in my opinion. This is the first book in The Nest series, and with so many great characters, it's looking like a must-read series. If Rowan and Kyleigh's romance is any indication, I can't wait for what comes next. 

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✱✱Book & AudioBook Review✱✱ My Favorite Boss by Melanie Moreland

 

Get ready to laugh out loud in the office from New York Times bestselling author Melanie Moreland -

My new boss—Alexander Bane
Aptly named since he’s the bane of my existence.
Please isn’t in his vocabulary.
He grunts, growls, and demands.
If only he didn’t look so sexy when doing so.
If only his mouth weren’t so addictive when kissing mine.
He’s quickly becoming my favorite boss.
Which is wrong.
My new assistant is an unwelcome distraction.
Snarky, witty, always smiling.
Constantly putting me in my place.
Making me second-guess my decisions.
I dislike it. Intensely.
Unless I’m kissing her.
Then Magnolia Myers becomes my favorite person.
Which I hate.
Two people working together, disliking each other.
Until they don’t.
Then the fun begins.
HR has never been so entertained.

Author's note: For those on the lookout for a hero who's so charming when he's bossy that it makes you want to follow his orders just to keep him talking.

Momma Says: 5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"HR has never been so entertained." That line of the blurb brings a laugh just thinking about the context. You'll completely understand what I mean if you've read My Favorite Boss. If you haven't, I highly recommend it. Alexander Bane and Magnolia Myers take compromising positions to a whole new level. That's as far as I'm going on that point. I'll let you find those laughs on your own. That said, I don't know that any tidbit from this laugh-out-loud funny tale would be considered a spoiler - there are so many great moments that one or two wouldn't do any damage (not that you're getting them from me!). 

I really needed a feel-good, hilarious book to get lost in when I started reading this one, and true to form, Melanie Moreland delivered. With every release, I have a new favorite, so I'll just say I love this book and its characters. The story pulled me right in and made for a wonderful bit of escape from everyday life.

My Favorite Boss

By: Melanie Moreland

Narrated by: Maxine Mitchell & John Lane

Momma Says: 5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I always count on John Lane and Maxine Mitchell to give wonderful performances, so it was no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed the listen of My Favorite Boss. Whether it was antics or funny banter or a bit of swoony and sexy or anything in between, Lane and Mitchell bring these characters right out of the book and into your head. I had the pleasure of reading the book and then listening, and I've gotta say that no matter which medium you choose, you won't be sorry. 

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✱✱Audio Book Review✱✱ The One I Didn't See Coming by Piper Rayne

 

The One I Didn't See Coming

Plain Daisy Ranch, Book 3

By: Piper Rayne

Narrated by: Jason Clarke & Ava Erickson

It’s the classic story—girl returns to her hometown only to end up moving in with her high school crush, who she hates.

Returning to Willowbrook was my only option after Chicago chewed me up and spit me out. Technically, it wasn’t Chicago’s fault. It was his fault—the man I thought I knew who turned out to be a liar.

My older sister, always the one to swoop in and fix things, secured me a job as a yoga instructor on her fiancé’s family ranch. As my self-assigned protector, she’s keeping one eye on me and one eye on Emmett Noughton, her fiancé’s brother.

He’s the charming, fun-loving, take-life-as-it-comes kind of guy, and once upon a time, his name was scribbled in my notebooks. Back then, I was invisible to him. Now, he’s looking at me like I’m the only thing in the room. But he lost his chance with me a long time ago.

It’s easy to keep him at arm’s length and nurse the grudge I’ve held onto for years. Until the house I’m staying in sells, and I have nowhere to go except his house. Now, resisting him isn’t just difficult—it’s impossible.

Momma Says: 5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you haven't already fallen in love with the Plain Daisy Ranch and the Noughtons, Emmett's love story will do the trick. He's the fun playboy on the surface, but we see so much more to him as he and Briar explore their attraction. This forced-proximity romance is on the lighter side, but it's not completely without angst. There is some baggage to work through, and Briar is the lucky lady who gets to do just that with the sexy Emmett.

The One I Didn't See Coming is such a great combination of sweet and sexy, and the chemistry between Briar and Emmett is off the charts. Then Piper and Rayne take this already terrific small-town romance and place it in the ever-capable hands of Jason Clarke and Ava Erickson for duet narration. These two are always good, and the authors couldn't have chosen better for their characters.

I had the pleasure of listening to this third book in the Plain Daisy Ranch series, but whatever medium you choose for this one, you won't be disappointed. 

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✱✱Audio Book Review✱✱ Devil of Dublin by BB Easton

 

Devil of Dublin

By: BB Easton

Devil of Dublin, Book 1

Narrated by: Elizabeth Klett & Eric Nolan

From the Wall Street Journal best-selling author of 44 Chapters About 4 Men (inspiration for the Netflix Original series Sex/Life) comes a dark Mafia romance steeped in Irish folklore.

I can’t remember anymore if my grandfather’s eyes were blue or green, but I’ll never forget the way they wrinkled at the corners when he laughed at one of his own jokes. Or the way they sparkled with mischief when he told me tales about the magical creatures that dwelled in the forest behind his humble Irish sheep farm—shy fairies who liked to eat tea biscuits, cruel witches who liked to eat children, a moody lake spirit with a taste for expensive gifts.

As a child, I believed every fantastical word. But when he warned me about the mute boy who also lurked in those woods, the one the priest had declared to be the spawn of Satan himself, I refused to listen. Kellen wasn’t evil. He was kind, and beautiful, and special, and hurting. He was my friend. And with every summer I spent stolen away with him in those enchanted woods, he grew to become so much more.

But when I return to Glenshire as an adult, grieving and engaged to someone else, all those legends quickly morph into nightmares.

My grandfather had been right about everything, especially the boy.

If only I had listened.

Warning: If you are a sensitive listener or find certain topics to be emotionally triggering, please exercise self-care and select a different book. Devil of Dublin is intended for mature audiences who enjoy dark subject matter, tortured antiheroes, explicit adult content, graphic violence, heart-pounding suspense, fairy-tale-worthy love, and gorgeous Irish scenery. If that sounds like you, then welcome to Glenshire!

Momma Says: 5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Somehow, this is my first time reading/listening to BB Easton's work, and I'm really kicking myself for the oversight. I went in blind, not knowing anything except it was dark romance with a fair amount of trigger warnings. Fortunately, triggers aren't a problem for me, so I dove in, and wow! Everything about this book just blew me away. The writing, the characters, the storyline, the narrators - yes, this book is just that good. The story flows so well that I didn't even realize how much time had passed as I listened. Kellen and Darby are a couple I won't soon forget. Their passion and intensity can be felt in every word, which is due to both the writing and the narration, in my opinion. Elizabeth Klett and Eric Nolan do such a good job with this book. From the accents to the emotions to every little quirk, the narration brings these characters to life. I've been trying to skirt around the details, so I don't spoil anything, so I'll just wrap it up by saying Devil of Dublin is more than a childhood crush/first love or mafia romance. It's a journey for Darby and Kellen, and at any given point, one or both of them will tug at every heartstring. 

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✱✱Book & AudioBook Review✱✱ Full Throttle by Melanie Moreland

 

There’s a new mechanic in town.

Dom Salvatore.

Tall, serious, intense. A loner.

Exactly what he wants to be.

Until he meets her.

Cherry Gallagher.

Independent. Stubborn. Sexy as hell.

And not interested.

Or is she?

What happens when two lonely people open up and discover there is more to life than being alone?

When the sparks they feel become an inferno they can’t control?

When they discover the best part of each other is what they were missing?

Can they handle the full throttle of love?

Author’s Note: Join this found family in the final story set in the small town of Littleburn, Ontario, Canada. Where this group of blue-collar heroes learn to love fiercely the strong women in their lives.

Momma Says: 5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Getting started on this one was kind of bittersweet, knowing it was the final book in the Reynolds Restorations series. At the same time, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Found family is one of my favorite tropes, and the characters in this series have become like friends to me. I can visit them over and over as the mood strikes.

That brings me to Full Throttle for Dom and Cherry's story. I've loved every couple in the series, but this one quickly became my favorite. Dom is an absolute sweetie in a sexy-as-sin package, and the things he says to Cherry are positively swoon-worthy. It takes Cherry a little longer to get on board with the whole romance thing, but only a little. Dom is a man who knows what he wants and goes after it... Well, he goes after it Full Throttle. We do get a twist or two along the way, but there's a magnetism between Dom and Cherry that nothing can break.

To sum it up, the Reynolds Restorations series is a found family of down-to-earth, blue-collar characters that you can't get enough of. It's full of everything I've come to expect from Melanie Moreland, and I can't wait to see what she does next. 

Full Throttle

Reynolds Restorations, Book 5

By: Melanie Moreland

Narrated by: Maxine Mitchell & John Lane

Momma Says: 5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you've ever had the pleasure of listening to Maxine Mitchell and John Lane, you already know how talented they are. They've applied that talent to Full Throttle, and it's so good! They are Cherry and Dom, and that's what they'll sound like in my head from now on. This one is a combination of great writing and great performances, and together, they're pretty hard to beat.  

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✱✱Audio Book Review✱✱ Groundball by Lisa Suzanne

 

Hardball

Vegas Heat: The Expansion Team, Book 5

By: Lisa Suzanne

Narrated by: Aiden Snow & Stephanie Rose

I was issued an ultimatum between the two loves of my life: her or the game.

No matter what I choose, I have to give up something I love.

Spring training is my first chance to show the world that Cooper Noah is back after the elbow injury that took me out of the game. It's the stage I stand on to prove I'm the starter the Vegas Heat is paying big bucks for.

But my heart isn't in any of it. My heart can't be in it when it's broken.

There's no way I can have both, but I've made my choice.

It's time to play hardball.

Hardball is the final book in the Vegas Heat: The Expansion Team series, which must be listened to in order.

Momma Says: 5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Well, if I wasn't already crazy about Cooper Noah, I would be now. This fifth and final book in Lisa Suzanne's Vegas Heat: The Expansion Team is everything I hoped it would be, and there are even a couple of surprises along the way to make it even better. At this point, I've said pretty much all I can about Cooper and Gabby without hitting spoiler territory. Instead, I'll tell you that this book, like its predecessors, is very well done. To be honest, I was iffy at the start about how far Lisa Suzanne could go with this same couple., but I feel like anything less would've shortchanged the characters, their story, and us readers. (or listeners, as the case may be). Cooper and Gabby have found a place in my heart, and I will be visiting with them again.

Aiden Snow and Stephanie Rose have narrated this series from the beginning, and I love their performances. They both do a terrific job with these characters, and I think when the author put this series into their very capable hands, she couldn't have made better choices.

So, if you're looking for a couple to fall in love with and maybe a bit of escape from the real world, I'd highly recommend this one. I, for one, couldn't get enough of this couple. 

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✱✱Audio Book Review✱✱ Over the Limit by K. Bromberg

 

Over the Limit

Full Throttle Series, Book 3

By: K. Bromberg

Narrated by: Gary Furlong & Stella Hunter

A forbidden, Formula 1 romance from New York Times bestselling author K. Bromberg.

You don't mess around with a teammates ex. Ever. But that's easier said than done when it comes to Blair Carmichael. She's sexy, intelligent, gorgeous, and one hundred percent off-limits.

And I've never fallen harder.

But I can't touch (when I most definitely want to).

My teams success and my chance at a new contract for next season depend on me keeping my hands on the wheel. And off her curves.

As the season progresses, we secretly steal as much time as we can together in hotel rooms, after races, anywhere we can't be found out. A real romance out in the open would risk her job in the industry, her reputation, and my image not to mention my strained relationship with my teammate.

I've lived my whole life with one mantra. Team first. What I want outside of my racing career hasn't factored in.

Until now.
Until Blair.

She deserves the world and I plan on giving it to her. Even if I have to walk away from the biggest contract of my career.

Momma Says: 4 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐

I'm not sure how I've missed K. Bromberg, but my TBR just had a big growth spurt. I enjoyed so many things about Over the Limit. The characters are relatable, and Lachlan and Blair are super easy to root for. The "when you know, you know" romance works really well for them. There's an almost magnetic pull between them from the start, and K. Bromberg has a writing style that gives us the feel of that pull and so much more. If you've ever had that heart racing, can't get them out of your head, every minute apart is torture kind of love, then you'll understand just how intensely Blair and Lachlan fall for each other. There are also a couple of those love-to-hate kinds of characters. One is just a nuisance, but the other has the potential to be downright dangerous. This one brings me right back to those relatable characters I mentioned. Not that I can relate to being dangerous to others, but I get the emotions of it all. There was one thing that niggled at me through most of the book, which has to do with the whole forbidden part of this romance. I'll skip the details to avoid spoilers, but it was enough that I felt like it was worth mentioning.

Finally, the narration. Gary Furlong and Stella Hunter do such a good job with this book. All of the emotions come through loud and clear, and in my opinion, the performances make an already good book even better.

Over the Limit is part of a series, but it stands on its own very well. As I mentioned, I'm new to this author, so I hadn't read anything but this book, and I didn't feel like I was missing anything. I will say I enjoyed this one so much that I'll be reading or listening to the rest of the series very soon.                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

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