Book Smart Kate

Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 Audiobook performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

by Lyla Sage (Nov. 2, 2024)

Many thanks to @prhaudio and @dellromance for the advanced listening copy of one of my most anticipated reads of 2024! I’m thrilled to say it’s my favorite in the series yet. Below is my honest review. #prhaudioinfluencer

If you’ve been following this series from the start, you’ve likely been itching for Gus and Teddy’s story just like I have. Ever since their sparks flew in Done and Dusted, it was clear their story would be explosive. Gus is struggling to juggle the demanding operations of Rebel Blue Ranch and being a full-time caregiver to his six-year-old daughter, Riley. When both responsibilities start to overwhelm him, his sister Emmy proposes an outlandish but potentially life-saving plan: have her best friend, Teddy—Gus’s longtime nemesis—move in to help with Riley. Gus and Teddy may butt heads constantly, but there’s no denying Teddy’s bond with Riley.

Teddy, at a crossroads with her career, reluctantly agrees to take the summer job. She’s not thrilled about living under Gus’s roof, but both of them agree that Riley’s well-being comes first. As the summer unfolds, Gus and Teddy, once adversaries, start to see that they may have more in common than they thought—and perhaps, they’re exactly what the other needs.

This book is easily my favorite of the series! The slow-burning tension between Gus and Teddy has been building for two books, and the payoff is fantastic. The anticipation started long before this book, making their romance all the more satisfying. Riley absolutely steals the show, and the extended network of friends and family adds depth and heart to the story, holding each other accountable in ways that really hit home. The overarching theme—finding balance and knowing when to ask for help—is beautifully woven throughout, making this book as heartwarming as it is spicy.

Also, a tip from me: if you ever find yourself on a fictional ranch filled with attractive people, always wipe down the counters before prepping food. Trust me, you’ll thank me later!

As for the audiobook, Jason Clarke and Samantha Brentmoor absolutely nailed it. Their narration is fun, tender, and perfectly captures the spicy, emotional layers of the story. They brought Gus and Teddy to life in the best possible way.

The last slide here is me (I know, I never show myself!) on an incredible ranch vacation we got to take, all the pictures on this slide are ones I took on the trip.