I was a little bit of a late bloomer when it comes to the Read Me Romance podcast.
The whole thing kicked off in November 2018 but it wasn't until February this year (2019) that I decided to give it a listen.
And then I binged.
And promptly fell in love with audio books, Tessa, Mel and Lea - and lots of new authors and their books. Not necessarily in that order!
And although we're now just about to start Season 3 (hell to the yeah!), I wanted to do a quick recap of all the book in, first, Season 1 and then, Season 2 in the coming days/weeks/whenever.
If you've never tried audio - or, as I had, tried audio and hated it - have a read through the book descriptions and my thoughts on them below and if any take your fancy - give them, and this whole podcast a go. Honestly - you won't be disappointed.
I feel that I'm forgetting to tell you the best bit of the podcast and that's Tessa, Mel and Lea. (Mel and Lea being the duo behind Alexa Riley).
They chat. Just on Monday and Fridays, mind. (The rest of the days of the week are just one of them, or two of them introducing the chapters for that day). And they help you realise you're not alone. You're not different. You're one of them. You're wanted, welcomed and at home with these girls we'll likely never know. They feel like the personification of the romance reading/writing community giving you an all-inclusive, all-welcoming hug.
Sorry to get sappy but I feel this podcast has helped me find my place and helped me realise that there are other people like me out there in this lonely world.
I hope you love it as much as I do.
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Guys - this is going to be a long post so sit tight. And because of the longness - if you fancy buying a book (assuming it's available), just click on the cover to take you to the book's Amazon.co.uk page. If you're not in the UK, from that page you should be able to click on the link on the right hand side to take you to the Amazon page of your own country and buy!
I'm also not going to rate a book in my traditional 1-5 star rating. I don't know why, to be honest, but I think you'll still get the gist of whether I enjoyed a book or not.
Read Me Romance is a FREE podcast hosted by New York Times Bestselling Authors Alexa Riley and Tessa Bailey.
At Read Me Romance, they bring you a new, original audiobook novella every week from one of your favourite authors! One section of the audiobook will be released each weekday, beginning Monday and ending with a perfect happily ever after on Friday!
Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss a single instalment!
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Ava fudged a little on her résumé to land her dream job. She’s been
working her curvy booty overtime to get her boss’s new lingerie line off
the ground. But when her boss’s brother comes in and says Ava should be
the face—and body—of the campaign, she’s having second thoughts.
Lucas knows what he wants, and the second he sees every lush inch of
Ava all bets are off. She’s not only the one for the job but the one for
him, and he’ll do whatever it takes to make her see it.
Title: Closer
Author: Alexa Riley
Genre(s): Contemporary
Narrator(s): Joe Arden & Maxine Mitchell
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I can't remember if this was my first ever Alexa Riley or just the one where I fell in love with them - it barely matters anymore since I'm well and truly obsessed. And God they hit the spot with this over-the-top, I must have you now, alpha man, virgin heroine story. Sometimes all you need is a quick and dirty break from reality and that's definitely what this is.
Extra points for the scooping scene in the limousine. I think I was listening while out on a walk and my knees just might have given way to leave me in a pile of goopy lust on the ground. Good times.
As for the narrators - I'm going to be honest when I say that at first I thought that the female narrator was a robot when I first started to listen. But I'm going to chalk that up to the fact that this was pretty much the first time I'd ever listened to an audio book properly. (But does anyone else think she was majorly channelling robot?)
The male narrator was just the right amount of rich douchebag (his words) and sexy alpha hero - he could definitely stand in my living room and talk.
Outcome: Pre-ordered the book and I clutch it to my chest even today.
The last place ex-Special forces soldier, Kyle
Musgrave, expected to find himself was in a joust at a renaissance fair.
There’s a prize for winning, however—her name is Cameron and she’s just
as horrified by her medieval circumstances as Kyle. She needs his help badly
to escape her would-be suitors. For Kyle, that means donning
uncomfortable armor, galloping to victory on a stubborn steed and
claiming a reward he never expected. If she’ll have him.
Title: Renaissance Man
Author: Tessa Bailey
Genre(s): Contemporary
Narrator(s): Emma Wilder & Teddy Hamilton
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Oh holy jousting this is a good book! There's jousting and a pink prom dress and a meet cute that starts with our heroine butt-up, hanging over a fence showing off her kecks to our hero. And it's seriously one of the best things I've read/listened to.
Kyle goes from not giving a shit, to pass me that sword while I win my woman. It's the dream, man. It's. The. Dream.
Teddy Hamilton's voice rumbles through you like the start of a darn good orgasm while Emma Wilder does a nice turn as our heroine, Cameron.
Outcome: Bought, re-read and re-swooned.
In the twenty-five years I’ve known Cory York, the only thing I didn’t fake with him were my orgasms.
In seventh grade, I faked a stomach flu to stay home and keep him company while he was sick. I ended up with a virus that kept me out of school for an entire week.
In twelfth grade I faked an injury to avoid going to prom by myself. He took pity on me, dumped his original date and escorted me to the dance where the spurned girl dumped an entire pitcher of red punch over my head.
In college, I faked being in a relationship with him to get him out of a bind with a classmate. Most recently, I faked a proposal, an engagement, and wedding date.
Between the ring on my finger and the home cooked meals every night, I fell for him. So I left, because Cory York is a good friend, but a terrible boyfriend. I had to leave before he broke my heart.
We went from best friends to silent strangers. Now that I’m back in town, he wants me to be his plus one for his cousin’s wedding. This time I’ll have to fake not loving him.
Title: Fake Love
Author: Claire Contreras
Genre(s): Contemporary
Narrator(s): Savannah Peachwood & Stephen Dexter
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This story couldn't have been cuter if it tried. Sure the couple have sex and it's all grown up and shit (but properly good shit, by the way) - but it was so fluffy and innocent and wonderful. And if you can't tell, I'm a sucker for a fake-relationship where they're actually in love with each other the whole damn time. Sigh.
Loved Savannah as Evelyn - she gave so much emotion to her words and really made the story her own. Plus her name - Savannah Peachwood - someone has to write a story with her as the heroine. Our male narrator only makes a small appearance at the end of the story but he's got a nice, deep voice that I was happy to listen to.
Outcome: Bought and re-read looking like this emoji 😍.
I’ve been raised as the good, obedient daughter, but I never expected to
be sold to pay my father’s debts. Cold. Rough. Merciless. The foreman
of the construction crew is going to make me pay every last cent.
Title: Heavy Equipment
Author: Skye Warren
Genre(s): Contemporary
Narrator(s): Lidia Dornet
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I was ready to love this story. I'm game for a bit of selling folk to pay debts - especially to rough, gruff construction dudes who (I'm guessing) will fall in love with the person they bought. Not in real life, obviously - that whole scenario would be wrong.
But, well, I didn't love it. I didn't even like it. The heroine was a wet blanket, and the hero was, for the short time I listened, vile and cruel and mean. And not the good kind of mean. The 'I'm going to kick your puppy and laugh' kind of mean. I stopped listening before the end of the first episode on the Monday and didn't listen again.
Outcome: Did not finish and did not like.
August is bitter and cold.
Two people he loved most betrayed him.
Winter is hot and sultry.
She’s the enemy’s daughter.
A blowout fight between Winter and her dad sends her straight into August’s waiting arms.
But August doesn’t want to hold her…he wants revenge.
The two are an explosive combination whenever they’re together. August antagonizes and Winter pushes back. Under all the hate burning between them is an attraction so intense, neither can ignore it.
It’s only a matter of time before it consumes them both.
Title: Red Hot Winter
Author: K Webster
Genre(s): Contemporary
Narrator(s): Melissa Barr & Philip Alces
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Winter is a young girl (fear not - she's 18) who at first I wasn't sure I would like. She's a little mouthy, a lot feisty and knowingly tries to push August's buttons. No simpering virgin here, sadly. I know, I know - but I do love my Alexa Riley heroines!! Melissa was a great voice artist for Winter as she sounded young enough but with a maturity and a sass that I'm sure the author was envisaging when she wrote the character.
I had to look up Philip Alces as I could detect a touch of England in his American accent which gives him an unusual (but in a good, interesting way) twang to his speech. (He apparently splits his time between California and England, just in case you're interested!). He's got a nice voice, the English giving him a sort of dirty school teacher feel to his voice which seemed perfect for Autumn's voice.
Lots of forbidden sex and I loved the 'over the back of the couch' time. Yum!
Outcome: An enjoyable, slightly forbidden romance that I liked, but decided not to buy in e-book.
When Noemi Huxley was forced to choose between love and duty…she chose duty. Three years later, the last thing she expects when she accepts the invite to attend the Thalanian royal wedding is to come face to face with her ex—or to find out he’s assigned as her security detail for the event.
Isaac Kozlov let the love of his life get away once before, and he’ll be damned before he does it a second time. He’s got three days to bring Noemi around to his way of thinking, and Isaac’s pulling out all the stops to make it happen. He’ll play dirty to convince Noemi that happily ever after doesn’t just belong in fairy tales.
Title: Their Second Chance
Author: Katee Robert
Genre(s): Contemporary
Narrator(s): Virginia Rose & Tristan James
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This book is part of Katee Robert's Thalanian Dynasty set of novels. I think this was why I was a bit confused about how our heroine, Noemi (
No-Me), fit into the royal family in question - but that wasn't really important in the grand scheme of our story.
I love a second chance romance and enjoyed this one, too - even if it was slightly forgettable. (Sorry - that sounds so mean and I don't like to be mean!)
Perhaps if I was reading the Thalanian Dynasty books I would have liked this particular story more than I did. I mean, Issac is a big, brooding Slavic beast of a man - I should be predisposed to love it. But I just liked it.
I loved Virginia Rose's audio, though. So authoritative and fierce. Yes, girl! Tristan was good, too, but paled next to the heroine's voice.
Outcome: Enjoyed it in the week but couldn't tell you much about it after the fact.
For the last two years Miko Riley has mourned her husband, a famous, bestselling novelist. While grieving, she put her heart and libido on ice, but she’s finally thawing. And who better to bring the heat than Adam Stone, the editor who secretly harbored feelings for Miko, but missed his shot years ago?
They’ve always been careful to ignore the connection, the attraction that flared between them. Now that they’re both hot, hungry and single, careful is the last thing they want to be.
They’d rather get burned.
Title: Swipe
Author: Kennedy Ryan
Genre(s): Contemporary
Narrator(s): Grace Grant & John Lane
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No - this isn't Kennedy Fox week. Is my brain really so taxed that if someone has the same name - hell, even the same first letter - I think they're the same person? Sigh.
I didn't like this story for numerous reasons. I didn't understand what the heroine's name was until probably Thursday. Niko? Miko? Nicky? I don't bloody know and I would think that might be the most important starting point.
And then she just seemed to mope about her dead husband who she loved/didn't love.
Then the hero had loved her for ages and she was going to date and he didn't want her to...
Oh, I barely care.
And then he ate her nipple. That's not sexy, dudes.
Then the heroine was Vietnamese. Not that this matters but it just shows she wasn't described before probably Thursday - about the same time I finally caught her name. 😐
Outcome: Didn't like the story but I at least listened to the whole audio book.
Inhale.
My name is Sage McAllister and my life is about to change remarkably.
I own a thriving yoga studio in Los Angeles.
I have a celebrity client list a mile long.
I’m followed. Fawned over. Adored.
And I’ve just been offered a TV show that could rocket me to stardom.
Exhale.
The choice should be easy.
I have absolutely nothing to lose.
Until a student walks into my class that sets my heart aflame.
Olivia Nguyen, my high school sweetheart.
And the woman I’ve loved my entire life.
Inhale. Exhale.
My name is Sage McAllister and I’ll be your yoga teacher this evening.
Let’s begin.
Title: Breath of Fire
Author: Kathryn Nolan
Genre(s): Contemporary
Narrator(s): Lucy Rivers & Rock Engle
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Okay - prepare to be offended by my traditionalist views.
I don't like the name Sage for a hero. It made me think he was a bit wet.
And then he was a famous Yoga teacher. He's getting less manly by the minute.
I know, I know - people can do whatever they want and still be masculine/feminine/whatever. But there are so many other romances out there where the heroes are not yoga teaching men called Sage - and I prefer those ones.
Truthfully, I enjoyed the romance of this book and the interplay between Sage and Olivia - it's a second chance romance after all - but the setting and details just didn't do it for me.
Lucy was interesting to listen to and Rock (Rrrrrrock!) was 100% the mellow hero of Sage.
Outcome: Enjoyed it but ultimately not really my cup of green tea!
My brain exploded at the supermarket. One minute I was arguing with my three-month-old about sticking grapes in her tiny mouth and the next minute I was staring at the face of the father of my child.
The guy ghosted me after I told him I was pregnant. I sent him texts, called him and even posted a certified letter but received zero response. While he was down for the baby-making activities, he had zero desire to accept the consequences.
So I did what any other like-minded woman would’ve done in my position. I reached into my cart and started hurling things at him.
To my surprise, he not only paid for the damage but followed me home. Now, he’s telling me he never got my messages or my letter and that he’s ready to be a father.
He’s patching drywall, doing the laundry, and carrying the trash to the curb, and I’m remembering what it was like when he was loving me every night. A few heated stares and a few brushes of his hand against mine and my long-dormant female parts are roaring to life. Everyone’s going to think I’m a few French fries short of a Happy Meal if I let him back into my life, but my heart can’t keep asking what if…
Title: Bombshell
Author: Jen Frederick
Genre(s): Contemporary
Narrator(s): Erin Mallon
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Gah - I bloody loved this story. It was so over the top funny and downright implausible that I gobbled it right up! It was like Sunset Beach (does anyone remember that beaut?) with romance.
After the fact, I've read some reviews where people are 'wah-wah-wah-ing' over the age of the baby in the story and whether it can talk. Seriously, guys - who gives a fuck? Is that what happens when you become a parent? I don't sit there and over-analyse whether the dogs in stories 'woof' at the right age and in the right circumstances. Sometimes my eyes don't roll hard enough.
The actual romance is a delight - I mean, how can a story that begins with braining a 'stranger' in the grocery store with tomatoes not be a winner?
Erin Mallon's voice was the perfect fit for Kate. I would have liked to have heard Jack's voice and had his point of view - but you can't have everything!
Outcome: Bought this book, read other people's reviews and pulled my eye muscles rolling them so hard.
There was a reason I was handcuffed to the bed, chocolate syrup smeared over both nipples. Dario Capece was getting married, and if he thought he’d ditch me to marry some rich Vegas bitch, then he had another thing coming.
I was taking my revenge in the best way possible: his best friend. Seduction was a new game for me, but thankfully, Trip Reinnet was good at reading signs and delivering orgasms. While a hurricane gathered force and moved closer, I played a risky game of love, luck and sex, with my most valuable possession up for grabs: my heart.
Title: Rolling the Dice
Author: Alessandra Torre
Genre(s): Contemporary
Narrator(s): Stella Bloom & Jonathan Ash
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It's 'think' coming. Just saying.
This was another story that I enjoyed but was ultimately a little forgettable for me. Our heroine wanted another man and was still wanting him when she decides to get revenge by sleeping with his best friend.
Hmmmm. I get the concept and perhaps in a longer book you can believe in the romance and the happily ever after. But I just can't believe that the sex could be so good that our heroine (Stephanie) would ditch her crush and fall in love with Trip in such a short space of time.
Shame as I liked the writing and Ms Bloom's voice was a dream. The voice of Trip was also good - not quite as gruff and gravelly as I might have expected but pleasant to listen to none the less.
Outcome: Enjoyed but no further action taken.
