explore | Grilled Cheese

@quinnreed.bsky.social Oct 7, 2026, 2:43 AM

🩰REVIEW🩰

FALLING IN LOVE Duology bks 1-2 by #NikkiAsh, narrated by #GideonFrost #SarahPuckett #GregorySalinas & #LexiEvans 4🌟

Dark, steamy, good, bingeable audio

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

🌶📚💙📚🎧 #books #romancelandia #romance #bookreview #bookrecs #goodread #steamyreads #darkromance #PFP

Book cover

Title: Falling in Love, the complete duology

Author: Nikki Ash, USA Today bestselling author

Performed by: Sarah Puckett, Gideon Frost, Lexi Evans, Gregory Salinas

*****Book review*****

>Brothers for Sisters<
While there is a decent amount of repeated items at the beginning of book two, I only hold a teensy grudge. I do like the storylines and how entwined they are in the grand scheme of things. The close bond the brothers share is rivaled by that of the sisters they eventually wed and bed.

It's not Nikki's darkest work, but this is up there, so check those triggers. SA, child abuse, violent ☠️, and more are present.

I love that the narrators differ between books, making it easier to binge. Those delightful narrators are: Gideon Frost, Lexi Evans, Gregory Salinas, and Sarah Puckett.

Story: 4 stars
Narration: 4 stars
Listening Speed: 1.8x

H = 30s; h = 20s

>TROPES & TRIGGERS:<
🎙 Dual narration
🩰 Wealthy business man x exotic dancer
🖤 Dark romance
☠️ Who hurt you?
🐣 Accidental Pregnancy
🍒 V-card retired
🔥 Open-door steamy scenes 🌶
☠️ Touch her and die
💥 He falls first
💦 Unprotected couplings
⏰️ Age gap romance
☠️ Sexual assault & violence
🎭 Secret identity
💋 One night stand
🕐 First person, dual POV

@quinnreed.bsky.social Oct 7, 2026, 2:15 AM

🖤 REVIEW 🖤

A RISK WORTH TAKING: Falling in Love Bk 2 by #NikkiAsh, narrated by #GregorySalinas & #LexiEvans 4🌟

Much darker than the 1st - still good

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

🌶📚💙📚🎧 #books #romancelandia #romance #bookreview #bookrecs #goodread #steamyreads #darkromance #agegaprom #PFP

Book cover

Title: A Risk Worth Taking

Author: Nikki Ash, USA Today bestselling author

*****Book review*****

>Masked Attraction<

Eliza (Ellie) Bardot and Lincoln Alexander have been around each other for years. She's had the biggest crush on him since he waltzed into her life many years ago, but memories and guilt keep her away.

I like how their relationship as adults starts - even with the deception. I also love how her truth comes to light. There's plenty of darkness, bittersweetness, and angst that get mixed with heat and heart throughout. Micah and Sienna's girls bring enough sunshine to keep some of the demons tamed. They are a joyous duo.

Not only does this start in a dark place, one that I suspected, but it doesn't end there. Please, if you need to check trigger warnings, do.

Reading the duology in order isn't necessary, but I do recommend it. That said, if you have read the first book, there is a LOT of repetition in the early chapters. It bothered me because I listened to the books in quick succession, so everything was still fresh. If I had read instead of listening to it, I would've skipped over much of that part.

The narrators, Lexi Evans and Gregory Salinas, are really good narrators and pull me into the story, allowing me to get lost in the storytelling. 🎧🩷🎧

Story: 4 stars
Narration: 4 stars
Listening Speed: 1.8x

H = 35; h = 21

>TROPES & TRIGGERS:<
🎙 Dual narration
🩰 Dancer x club owner
💦 Unprotected couplings
☠️ Touch her and die
⏰️ Age gap romance
🐣 Accidental Pregnancy
☠️ Sexual assault & violence
🎭 Secret identity
💋 One night stand
🔥 Open-door steamy scenes 🌶
🕐 First person, dual POV

@quinnreed.bsky.social Oct 6, 2026, 11:26 AM

🐦‍⬛REVIEW🐦‍⬛

THE LAST GOODBYE: Blue Sky Bay bk 2 by #LauraPavlov, duet narration by #DesireeKetchum & #JasonClarke 5🌟

Another fantastic read!

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

🌶📚💙📚🎧 #books #romancelandia #romance #bookreview #bookrecs #goodread #newrelease #steamyreads #enemiestolovers #ValentinePR

Book cover

Title: The Last Goodbye

Author: Laura Pavlov, USA Today bestselling author

Narrated in duet by: Jason Clarke and Desiree Ketchum

*****Book review*****

>"Date Me Until You Hate Me"<

The animosity rolls off Bass Bennett in waves. I need a good enemies-to-lovers, and I get that with him and Briar Sinclair. 💗

Their nicknames for each other are hilarious: he's McGrumpy, she's Magpie. Even better than that is how they first meet. She's devious, I'll give her that, but it has me in stitches.

-- Book quote
"I never met a rule I didn't enjoy breaking."
-- Bass Bennett

Not only are they fantastic, but as Laura seems to master in every book of hers that I've read, the MCs are elevated by their found family and the insane and witty banter. I burst out laughing several times.

Taking it one more level is the adorable four-year-old Clover and an appearance or two by Cutler and Gracie's dog, Meatball. I love every scene they steal, wedding fever, and all. Hehehe....

I listened to the audio book. I love the narration. The narrators, Desiree Ketchem and Jason Clarke, are an absolute delight in duet! 🎧💜🎧

Story: 5 stars
Narration: 5 stars
Listening Speed: 1.8x

H & h = mid- to late 20s

<b>TROPES & TRIGGERS:</b>
🎙 Duet narration 🩷
🏨 Investment realtor x restaurant owner
👧 Adorable four-year-old
🏡 Small town romance
🩵 Found family
💋 Enemies-to-lovers
💬 Dirty talk
🔥 Open-door steamy scenes 🌶
🕐 First person, dual POV

@judyfaylondon.bsky.social Oct 3, 2026, 10:52 PM

#goodread #book #blog

cowboytrivia.blogspot.com/p/win-wester...

@quinnreed.bsky.social Oct 3, 2026, 3:48 PM

🩷 REVIEW 🩷

THE RISK OF FALLING: Falling in Love bk 1 by #NikkiAsh, narrated by #GideonFrost & #SarahPuckett 4🌟

Mixing up the order of things -💗 💍 🌶️- can be good

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

🌶📚💙📚🎧 #books #romancelandia #romance #bookreview #bookrecs #goodread #steamyreads #darkromance #PFP

Book cover

Title: The Risk of Falling

Author: Nikki Ash, USA Today bestselling author

*****Book review*****

>Order of Operation, Love Edition<

Micah Alexander and Sienna Bardot have an interesting dynamic. She wants nothing to do with him. He wants everything to do with her. It creates some interesting and enticing friction.

-- Book quote
'I don’t really understand men in general, and what little I do know makes me wish I were attracted to women—it’s a shame I’m not enticed by the female body in that way.'
-- Sienna Bardot

Sienna is essentially a single parent. Her mother is beyond neglectful of her and her younger sister, Ellie, so she's assumed the role of caretaker and protector. I love that she puts Ellie first, especially when Ellie shows her lack of maturity.

Another thing about Sienna is that she holds true to waiting for love and marriage before intimacy. The order may get a little skewed, but I like that she's up front with him.

When it comes to Micah, he's something. LOL! He's completely over-the-top when it comes to Sienna and is the one to fall first. He's ridiculous, but in ways that are more entertaining than anything else. He's mostly likable. 😂

The way his family takes to the Bardot women is terrific. The acceptance and lack of judgment make me love them.

Things do get dicey, and triggers are present, so be aware. A lot of it is off page, but not all of it. 🖤☠️

I listened to the audio book. The narrators, Sarah Puckett and Gideon Frost, are very enjoyable, conveying the expected emotion and being easy to listen to. 🎧🩷🎧

Story: 4 stars
Narration: 4 stars
Listening Speed: 1.8x

H = 32; h = 24

>TROPES & TRIGGERS:<
🎙 Dual narration
🩰 Wealthy business man x exotic dancer
🖤 Dark romance
☠️ Who hurt you?
🐣 Accidental Pregnancy
🍒 V-card retired
🔥 Open-door steamy scenes 🌶
☠️ Touch her and die
🚫 Sexual assault & violence
💥 He falls first
🕐 First person, dual POV

@quinnreed.bsky.social Oct 2, 2026, 11:11 AM

♨️ REVIEW ♨️

GOODE TIDINGS: Serendipity & Shenanigans bk 3 by #JenniferMillikin, duet narration by #AaronDonahue & #HannahChiclana 4.5🌟

Apt series name 😂🔥🍬💚

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

🌶📚💙📚🎧 #books #romancelandia #romance #bookreview #bookrecs #goodread #newrelease #steamyreads #ValentinePR

Book cover

Title: Goode Tidings

Author: Jennifer Millikin

Narrated by: Hannah Chiclana and Aaron Donahue

*****Book review*****

>Soft Landing<

Full frontal view provided by the house squatter? OK, color me intrigued! 🫣☺️

It starts with some drama and plenty of comedy. I like how this all plays out as Callum (Hot Squatter. Sad Man Hermit, Hermie, Cal) Goode meets his match when Eden (Andes Mint) Madigan comes around the corner.

-- Book quote
'I'm so starved for human connection that I'm wilting in the presence of physical beauty.'
-- Callum Goode

I love that Eden's main focus is her son, Oliver. She's an imperfectly good mom. Not only does Callum see it, but the way he quietly lifts her up is 🫠 so sweet. I just... 💚

When it comes to the couple, I absolutely adore how when the switch flips, it completely flips, and nothing holds them back from exploring the chemistry. ❤️‍🔥 The way they balance each other is fantastic! Add in her extended found family, and I am so happy that I read this. 🥰

I listened to the audio book. Lending voice to these characters are Aaron Donahue and Hannah Chiclana. The narrators are great in duet. I love the little flourishes that are included. 🎧💚🎧

Story: 4.5 stars
Narration: 4.5 stars
Listening Speed: 1.8x

H & h = 34

>TROPES & TRIGGERS:<
🎙 Duet narration 🩷
🏡 Small town romance
👩 Single mom
👀 Forced proximity
❤️ Found family
😠 Grumpy / Sunshine 🌞
🔥 Open-door steamy scenes 🌶
🕐 First person, dual POV

@deadlynightjade.bsky.social Oct 1, 2026, 8:21 PM

And for those #book lovers and #readers who are reading this, I have this book, it is a #GoodRead. I saw some interviews with Yusef Salam when the book was published and found him very compelling, smart, articulate and wise – both speaking and writing. #BookSky #Library

www.npr.org/2021/05/18/9...

@quinnreed.bsky.social Oct 1, 2026, 1:56 AM

🦋 REVIEW 🦋

SANCTUARY OF LIES: Hawkthorpe bk 1 by #JRose, narrated by #JakeBordeaux & #BridgetBordeaux 4🌟

Reasons for not picking the bear: Leo, Sterling & Fletch

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

🌶📚💙📚🎧 #books #romancelandia #romance #bookreview #bookrecs #goodread #steamyreads #mfmm #ValentinePR

Book cover

Title: Sanctuary of Lies

Author: J Rose

*****Book review*****

>Liberation<

Run, Everleigh Banks, run! I'm screaming that with every detail of what she's escaping is revealed. Yes, she's already on the run, but geez, what a piece of 💩 is that "man" she's leaving. Domestic violence, including gaslighting, isolation, and verbal and physical abuse, throughout her marriage are shown in little flashbacks. On top of that, Christopher is a.... I'm not going to finish that as it might give away too much.

Everleigh, also known as Eden Coles as she tries to establish a new life, has been nothing more than a pawn throughout much of her life, be it her egg donor or the monster often referred to as her husband. I admire her strength to run and start anew. Regardless of what she's leaving behind, sometimes the best answer is to save yourself first.

For as dark as this gets, it has sweet and loving moments that make it easy to enjoy. I love how Cassidy, Maverick, and other residents of Hawkthorpe welcome her with open arms, a hot meal, and a place to lay her weary body. They are a wonderful found family that she needs to help her heal and move forward.

Of course, the attraction to Leo and Sterling Vale and Fletcher Wright helps even more. 🤭 They are all broken in their own ways, be it childhood trauma, loss of a loved one, or the sense of failure from a mission gone sideways. I love how the fueling of the chemistry between Everleigh and the three men allows them to see some of their truths and emerge on the other side stronger.

The drama is a little overdone on an occasion or two, whether that is due to the writing, the narration, or a bit of both, I can't say for sure, but I did tune out that part a wee bit.

As mentioned, I listened to the audio book. The narrators, Jake and Bridget Bordeaux, are good. There isn't much difference between the male voices, which makes it hard to keep track sometimes. That and my other comments above are my on…

@judyfaylondon.bsky.social Sep 30, 2026, 6:44 PM

#goodread #amazon #storybook

www.amazon.com/Montana-Shoo...

@romanruska.bsky.social Sep 30, 2026, 12:41 PM

»There are ethical landmines everywhere, and each of us must decide who is worth working for, despite them perhaps being a very bad actor.
And for some of us, those are some mighty big compromises that we have to make.«

—> thedieline.com/jessica-hisc...

#design #ethic #meta #muse #goodread