Audiobook Review: The Code for Love by Anne Marsh

Title: The Code for Love

Author: Anne Marsh
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 
A software engineer convinced that algorithms and romance don’t mix takes a work road trip with her surfer-boy nemesis in this swoon-worthy enemies-to-lovers romance.

Her perfect plan has a gorgeous glitch…

Software engineer Pandora Fyffe is known for being prickly. The same can’t be said for world-famous surfer Ozzy Wylde, Pandora’s neighbor, a social media star beloved for his relaxed charm. The eight-pack abs and angelic face don’t hurt, either. Everyone likes Ozzy, while Pandora’s boss can barely remember her name.

But Pandora’s aiming to change all that with a new app that predicts a user’s ideal travel partner. Sure, there are bugs—the demo identified Ozzy as her perfect match! Now her boss wants them to take a romantic Mexican road trip filled with fake-dating posts to build their brand. At the end of it, one of them will win Pandora’s dream job.

Soon they’re rumbling through the beaches, deserts and fishing villages of Baja, letting their guards down, confessing fears, falling deeper. Nothing prepared her for sharing close quarters with the force of nature that is Ozzy—or for what will happen to her heart when the journey ends…

Review:

Pandora got fired for kissing surf god Ozzy and the face of the new campaign at work. Not a good day.

Fast forward, and Pandora sees someone climbing up the wall to the condo she lives in, and she rightfully calls the cops. But you'll never guess who was climbing the wall... Ozzy, of course.

When Pandora is in a pickle at work because of the ongoing prank war going on between her and Ozzy, he comes to her rescue and matches with her on the app she is building to find road trip buddies. Will they be able to live in a small camper van in Mexico while they try to enjoy their trip? Only time will tell.

I had a very hard time getting into this book, though I really wanted to. There was something about it that just seemed to drag on and on. And while there is an enemies to lovers trope, this seemed like an impossible gap to bridge. I give the book 3.5 stars, but have rounded up.

Mooreghan Martin read this book, and I think that's what saved the book for me. I could listen to her read just about anything.

I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

************ I received this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed by this fact. I NEVER charge for a review.

Audiobook Review: Not So Fast by Karen Booth

Title: Not So Fast    

Author: Karen Booth
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 
“Of the recent crop of Formula 1 romances, this one’s way out in front.”  -- Publishers Weekly Starred Review

When the curves are this dangerous, only a race car driver will do… A sizzling, high-octane Formula One rom-com you can read in one sitting!

Mia Neal is a champion overthinker. Find something, fixate on it and spiral down. Fortunately, she puts that energy to good use: in a podcast about Formula One, her favorite sport in the world. There’s nothing about racing Mia doesn’t adore. The speed. The drivers. The fierce competition. The single-minded ambition. Ironic for a woman who’s changed careers more times than she can count.

Only now, her salty takes on gorgeous Brit driver Xander Bishop have gone viral, and the podcast feels more and more like what she’s meant to do… Then Xander’s teammate invites her to the Miami Grand Prix to see F1 up close—and get in Xander’s head. He’s not exactly delighted at the shade she’s been throwing his way.

It should be all-out war. Instead, Mia and Xander are stunned by the sudden crackle of…something sexual arcing between them. It’s irresistible, unbelievably hot—and Mia’s warning flags are waving. Because this reckless attraction is coming at Mia all too fast…

Review:

While sports romances have not always been at the top of my TBR pile (unless it's hockey), this book has put Formula One books on my radar. (Or perhaps just books by Karen Booth?) So, for all of you who have the need for speed, it's time to pick up Not So Fast. Karen shows us that she's quite capable of crossing the finish line!

My only problem with the book was the multiple POV switches in the same chapter (but it didn't bother me enough for me to lower the rating on the book). While this may be denoted by scene/POV change graphics in the paperback/ebook, there is no such thing in the audiobook.

Talon David did a great job with the voices and narration in this book.

I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

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I received this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed by this fact. I NEVER charge for a review.

Review: Why Not Forever by Sarah Neeson

Title: Why Not Forever

Author: Sarah Neeson
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 
Vic Sterling
People have called me uptight, a control freak, and an ice queen for most of my life. As co-owner and CEO of Blue Vista Events, I orchestrate other people's happily-ever-afters while keeping my own heart safely frozen.

Until Tanner Marcus strolls back into my life with an outrageous proposal. We’d been friends once—and almost more—until he took the job at my father’s company that should have been mine. My father's latest power play offers Tanner ownership of the company, but only if he puts a ring on my finger.

His counter-offer is tempting: half the business in exchange for a temporary marriage. But while I might trust him in the boardroom, I won't trust him with my heart—because even ice can break.

Tanner Marcus
Taking the job at Sterling Properties cost me Vic’s trust once. I’m not going to let it happen a second time. Not when I have another chance with the one woman who has never left my thoughts. She may present a polished, frigid facade to the world, but I remember the fire beneath the frost.

Living together is breaking down our carefully constructed walls. Behind closed doors, Vic lets her guard down and even dances with me. She’s helping me learn that loving my family doesn’t mean I have to solve all their problems, and I'm teaching her she doesn’t need to be in control all the time.

We agreed to divorce after twelve months, but I've been harbouring a decade of unspoken feelings. As our pretense starts to feel real, I'm ready to renegotiate terms. Instead of a year, why not forever?

Review:

I am absolutely floored by Why Not Forever by Sarah Neeson! It’s about time we got to Vic's story and how she falls in love. And boy does she fights it tooth and nail. Will everything that she’s fought so hard to get come to her? Or will she be forced to be set aside by the one person who should have been there for her from the day she was born?

Tanner was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but he never assumed that him getting a job would ruin the trust of the person he was growing to love. But when he is approached by Vic’s father, he has two choices:

One: be manipulative, like Vic's father

Or

Two: fess up to what is really happening and see where it’ll lead

Will this marriage of convenience work out? Only time will tell and only if you read the book! :-)

Sarah Neeson did an exceptional job on Vic’s story and brought Tanner in to be everything she could possibly need and more!

I'd like to thank the author for the opportunity to review this book.

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I received this book for free in exchange for an honest opinion. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed by this fact. I NEVER charge for a review.

Audiobook Review: Much Ado About Hating You by Sarah Echavarre Smith

Title: Much Ado About Hating You

Author: Sarah Echavarre Smith
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 
Enemies by day. Spicy fanfic author and devoted reader by night.

Things are about to get downright Shakespearean.

All’s fair in love. And war. And fandom.

Financial auditor Micah Mila is used to being the bearer of bad news, and her latest assignment in the local university’s English department has been especially taxing—no thanks to a literature professor who clashes with her at every turn. Thankfully, she has an after-hours escape: reading spicy Shakespearean fanfic.

Professor Aidan Scott is damn good at his job. But Micah has been a thorn in his side since the moment he laid eyes on her—eyes that really like what they see. Yet, with his job on the line, there’s no room for distractions. At least, not beyond the sexy fanfic he secretly writes.

When Micah discovers the man getting under her skin is the writer heating her up, their enemy vibe turns steamy. But with Micah’s audit due and Aidan’s career at risk, separating fantasy from reality becomes more than a little complicated…  

Much Ado About Hating You by Sarah Echavarre Smith

Shakespeare, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, secret romance, hot professor, “good girl,” dirty talk, hot nerd hero, black cat girlie, working together, praise kink, she comes first, high heat level, “I hate you but I love f&*$ing you”

Review:

What do you do when your job essentially puts other people on the unemployment line? You suck it up and do what you're paid to do, no matter how much people put you down and question your morals. But what happens when the person who is the most vocal decides that you're a feast? (You'll have to read to find out!) Those are the problems faced by our FMC, Micah. Poor thing.

And our MMC, Aidan, is suffering from wondering how much longer he's going to have a job since Micah is consulting for the University to find out where the fat could be cut in his department. Will he be next on the chopping block? And who else should be blamed but poor Micah?

If you enjoy a good spicy, enemies to lovers book, then this book is definitely one you should pick up. Sarah did a great job with the tension in this book and of making the characters both likeable and loveable.

And Cindy Kay and J. F. Harding gave the book the extra pizzaz it needed to bring it to the next level. Kudos you two, kudos! Stand up and take a bow!

I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

************ I received this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed by this fact. I NEVER charge for a review.

Audiobook Review: Not Safe For Work by Nisha J. Tuli

Title: Not Safe For Work

Author: Nisha J. Tuli
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 

Two workplace enemies find themselves in close proximity on a tropical company retreat that challenges their assumptions—and just might make them to fall for each other—in this romcom by a by a beloved TikTok author.

Engineer Trishara Malik once dreamed of being the first woman of color to smash the glass ceiling at WMC Purcell, but after years of dealing with white male privilege and blatant nepotism, she watches her hard-earned promotion go to her nemesis, Rafe Gallagher—the boss’s son. Teetering on the edge of burnout, Tris is stunned when she’s picked to attend WMC's corporate leadership retreat in Hawaii. It’s a chance to revive her stalled career and compete for a coveted spot in an executive training program—plus, three weeks in paradise! The only downside? Rafe is her co-attendee.

Tris plans to avoid Rafe entirely, but when she arrives in Maui, a booking error has them stuck sharing the honeymoon suite. Sure, it’s not all torture. Rafe is a smoldering ten—okay fine, an eleven—but after years of competition, they can barely stand being in the same time zone. As they vie against each other during aptitude tests and team-building exercises, Tris begins to realize Rafe might not be the villain after all. With her dreams at stake, can she learn to trust the man who might have been standing in her corner all along?

Review:

Tris works in a white male dominated industry. She's working to push through the glass ceiling of her job and make it in her field. But when her boss' son gets the job she's been working hard to get she nearly loses it. But soon she finds out that she's been picked for a leadership retreat (along with Rafe - her boss' son) and that gives her a little hope. But when they get there, guess what ladies and gentlemen... there's only one bed. (What a great trope!) But Rafe's not half the monster she thinks he is.

This enemies to lovers, workplace romance, with only one bed and forced proximity is a really fun listen. Soneela Nankani (our wonderful narrator) made the book fun, and she brought all the characters to life in such a great way. Kudos.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

************ I received this in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed by this fact. I NEVER charge for a review.

Review: Prescription for Love by Mia Denson

Title: Prescription for Love

Author: Mia Denson
 
Buy Link: CLICK HERE

Publisher's Insight:
 

On a frigid Christmas Eve, med student Meera faces her worst nightmare: carpooling back to Toronto with her arrogant, know-it-all rival, Owen. After a grueling month-long internship at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, the last thing she needs is him mansplaining from the driver’s seat. But when a fierce blizzard forces them off the road and into a quirky bed and breakfast, the only available room is the violently pink attic – complete with one bed and just enough space for Owen’s oversized ego.

Snowed in, missing their families, and constantly at each other’s throats, Meera and Owen are ready to snap – until the B&B’s quirky charm and a few dangerously strong cocktails begin to thaw the ice between them. As sparks fly and tension gives way to undeniable chemistry, Meera must confront her feelings for the one person she thought she despised. Can their unexpected connection survive the return to their cutthroat med school life?

In this heartfelt holiday rom-com, two sworn enemies discover there’s a fine line between rivalry and romance – and that sometimes love is just one snowstorm away.

Review:

Meera and Owen are not what you would call friends. Med school is tough enough, but when you have arch nemeses, there is just not enough energy left in the day to deal with it. What happens then when you're stuck in the car with them car pooling home for Christmas? In order to find out, you'll have to read the book. Sneaky aren't I? I'll be honest, if it were me in this instance, I think I'd be all about shooting him in the foot (with a rock or something) for stealing my car snacks.

In this enemies to lovers book, you'll find out how just giving a little of yourself can be the best reward of them all.

I laughed out loud and rooted for the characters in this book from about the 15% mark in the book. (It took me that long to get over the car snack ordeal!)



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I'd like to thank the author for the opportunity to review this book. I was given a book in exchange for an honest review, hope you enjoy it.