Audiobook Review: The Accidental Dating Experiment by Lauren Blakely
The Accidental Dating Experiment
Series: How to Date #4
Author: Lauren Blakely
Narrators:
Andi Arndt
Jacob Morgan
Published: April 11, 2024
Audiobook: 6 hours 55 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: November 11-13, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 3.5 stars
Book Description:
Eight years ago I fell into a secret summer fling with my best friend’s little sister before our lives went in different directions. Now, I’m the grumpy to Juliet’s sunshine on a popular dating podcast we host, and when a wealthy fan gives us a charming coastal cottage as the biggest thank you ever, we head to the town where I grew up to give it a makeover.
And find the house has only one bed. Located under a mirrored ceiling.
To make matters even harder, the bright, big-hearted woman I’ve been pining for tells me she wants to try to find the one and would I please be her dating coach for the week?
Like hell I’ll let her date other men. I’ll coach her on three dates with me.
But the second I take her out, I don’t feel like her teacher. I feel like she’s mine, especially when the first night ends with us tangled up together in that bed.
Each night we grow closer, but this dating experiment forces me to face my greatest fear–whether a man like me is worthy of her love.
Even though I’m already head over heels for her.
Jessica’s Review:
The Accidental Dating Experiment is not my typical genre I read or listen to. But I saw it was free on my Audible account and it sounded cute, so I went for it! Well… I didn’t realize it was going to be smutty! LOL. My fault for not researching the author before I listened to the book as her ‘go to’ phrase is:
Cute But Spicy
Books That Make You Blush
So the joke’s on me then… I also didn’t know that this is book four in a series, it did seem like a standalone book to me. But I actually enjoyed listening to this novel.
The banter that Monroe and Juliet have on their job of the podcast was (!) and their chemistry in general was hot an I found myself saying “go ahead and get back together!”.
Again, I’m not a spicy reader and the spice in this novel was too much for me, but I made it through. Just give me fade to black scenes, I don’t need specific details. I guess I will have to look more into romance books I may choose to read in the future…
It was an enjoyable book with the cute romantic tropes of grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, second chance romance, and the one bed situation.
The epilogue ended things well and I really enjoyed the ending.
Both narrators, Andi Arndt and Jacob Morgan, brought the characters of Juliet and Monroe to life. They were perfect narrators for these characters!
3.5 stars is a good review for a book that is out of my normal genre with too much spice for this listener.
Audiobook Review: Where the Darkness Goes by Kiersten Modglin
Where the Darkness Goes
Author: Kiersten Modglin
Narrators:
Ellie Gossage
Jay Myers
Published: December 31, 2024
Audiobook: 8 hours 11 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: December 12-19, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 3.5 stars
Book Description:
Tessa Becker has several reasons to never return to her hometown:
She will have to face the man who shattered her heart.
She is terrified to confront her ailing mother’s condition.
That is where the murders happened.
Tessa Becker must return home for one reason and one reason alone:
Someone else is dead and it’s time to finally learn the truth.
Ever since the first murder, Tessa’s once charming and safe hometown has been infected with suspicion and fear. Back then accusations were made in whispers, but without proof, the killer still walks free. And now it’s possible they’ve struck again.
If things weren’t complicated enough, Tessa finds herself forced to stay with the one man she had hoped to avoid. Years ago, Garrett Campbell held her heart until he crushed it. Now, he’s a stranger. He’s also her brother’s best friend.
In an all-too-familiar place filled with secrets and devastating loss—surrounded by people and memories she’d rather forget—Tessa will have to discover the truth about what happened back then, and the threat it poses to the town and the ones she loves most before it’s too late.
Jessica’s Review:
I have grown to love Kiersten Modglin’s thrillers and learned to be leery of her romantic thrillers. They can be a bit much on the spice level for me, but I have listened to enough of hers to know what to expect. If Modglin writes it them most likely I will want to listen to it! And I am working on her back log of titles she has written. She just keeps writing more and more books!
We have Tessa who has to come ‘home again’ IE: the place where she grew up. She comes across old memories and old people from that previous life. This includes Garrett who broke her heart all those years ago. And get this: Garrett is her brother’s best friend.
We have a romantic thriller here with some smut in it. I was in this book for the thriller parts and we had some! The twist ending and twist villain with the motive was a bit unbelievable and ‘off the rails’ for me. This one just wasn’t really for me. After this one, I will keep listening/reading Modglin (As she is a must read) but will stay away from her romantic thrillers.
Many thanks to the publisher for granting me a copy to listen to and review!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Short Story Sunday: The Housemaid’s Wedding by Freida McFadden
The Housemaid’s Wedding
Series: The Housemaid #2.5
Author: Freida McFadden
Published: November 22, 2024
Paperback: 63 pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Read: November 26, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 3.5 stars
Short Story Description:
The Housemaid’s Wedding is a winter-themed short story meant to fill in the long gap between Book 2 and Book 3 of The Housemaid series . It can be read either between Book 2 and Book 3, or after Book 3.
Today is supposed to be the happiest day of my life.
I’m engaged to the man of my dreams, and in a few short hours, I’m going to stand before a judge, who will declare us husband and wife, till death does us part. Despite some bumps in the road, this day is everything I dreamed it would be.
There’s only one problem:
Someone out there doesn’t want me to live long enough to say my vows.
And if I’m not careful, they may very well get their wish.
Jessica’s Review:
The Housemaid’s Wedding is a short story and just 63 pages. It is meant as a quick filler between books two and three of the Housemaid series. It’s not to be taken seriously; and is a fun and very quick read for the fans who wanted to read about Millie and Enzo’s wedding.
I didn’t have to read about their wedding, but when McFadden mentioned it and I was able to buy a paperback copy for the inexpensive price of $2.79 I jumped at the chance! McFadden wrote this for the fans and is not making any money off this short story being written. I enjoyed it and I listened to the entire Housemaid series on audiobook, I heard the narrator Lauryn Allman’s voice as Millie again as I read this one! Allman is perfect as Millie for me with the audiobooks. I can’t wait to see how the movie will be.
Read it or not, that is up to you as the reader. If you have enjoyed The Housemaid series then I say go for it. Just remember, it’s a very short and quick read!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK