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itslikeareward218's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
4.0
Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media & Talia Hibbert for the chance to listen to this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is the third book in the Midnight Heat series. I have read the previous installments and can completely conclude that these can easily be read as standalones. As per usual for Talia Hibbert, the banter is top notch between this golden retriever and black cat. There is tension and past trauma and temptation after temptain. The narration was done really well.
amarachireadss's review against another edition
3.25
I listened to this audiobook which was an ALC and if you're looking for a quick spicy read I would recommend it. I thought the narrators did a good job of bringing the characters and plot to life. The mmc is a rich footballer and instantly is attracted to the mmc when they meet, he needs her help and they agree to a fake date. The fmc does not have a good track record with relationships and has sworn them off so they agree to a no-strings-attached situationship while fake dating. I liked the fmc and watching her learn to be in a relationship with someone who actually cared for her. The mmc was boy obsessed and I also loved that. There is a lot of spice in this and overall it was decent despite some clinginess.
Read for:
- Fast read
- Golden retriever mmc/black cat fmc
- Grumpy mmc/ sunshine fmc
- He falls first
- Plus size fmc
- Queer rep
Read for:
- Fast read
- Golden retriever mmc/black cat fmc
- Grumpy mmc/ sunshine fmc
- He falls first
- Plus size fmc
- Queer rep
whiptostic's review against another edition
3.0
I kind of like this twist on fake dating. I like the exchange of money and things feel a little insincere I didn’t fully understand the vacation. It didn’t feel realistic to me.
booksandlooksss's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was the perfect short, sweet, and sexy story that I needed.
I am such a huge fan of Talia's writing style. Her quick wit and dry sense of humor captivates and makes for such an enjoyable reading experience. I loved how despite the novella style of this book, she was quickly able to establish these two characters and the main plot of the novel.
I loved both Ari and Nik. I thought that they were perfect foils for each other, and I loved their distinct differences on the page. Nik's mouth had me SWEATING and I loved how strong Ari was after the trauma that she's been through. The story was a little bit insta-lovey; however, I'm glad that Ari's character was on the cautious side, which made for realistic storytelling.
These audio narrators were fantastic! Their tone were so captivating and I was having so much fun while listening to this audiobook. I could easily visualize this story and these characters from the acting and delivery that they provided through their vocal stylings.
Overall, a story that is perfectly short and sexy! I had so much fun and I highly recommend listening to this audiobook!
Thank you Talia Hibbert, Dreamscape Media, and Netgalley for this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
I am such a huge fan of Talia's writing style. Her quick wit and dry sense of humor captivates and makes for such an enjoyable reading experience. I loved how despite the novella style of this book, she was quickly able to establish these two characters and the main plot of the novel.
I loved both Ari and Nik. I thought that they were perfect foils for each other, and I loved their distinct differences on the page. Nik's mouth had me SWEATING and I loved how strong Ari was after the trauma that she's been through. The story was a little bit insta-lovey; however, I'm glad that Ari's character was on the cautious side, which made for realistic storytelling.
These audio narrators were fantastic! Their tone were so captivating and I was having so much fun while listening to this audiobook. I could easily visualize this story and these characters from the acting and delivery that they provided through their vocal stylings.
Overall, a story that is perfectly short and sexy! I had so much fun and I highly recommend listening to this audiobook!
Thank you Talia Hibbert, Dreamscape Media, and Netgalley for this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
tyras_bookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This one is super British, I like it.
Aria is a hot, tattooed RBF type with a deep need for affection, recovering from romantic trust issues and betrayal (way more seriously than I thought when I first opened this book).
Nik is a hot, rich sl*t recovering from his own hubris, a busted knee ensuring in a career change and a lifestyle of apoiled behaviors.
Basically the whole book is love at first sight, “he falls first” and spends the book lying and wooing her with his loveable, vulgar friends. The conflict and ending were (as one expects in a contemporary romance) predictable.
*spoliers*
I guess I don’t believe in love at first sight though so it was hard to suspend my disbelief for that. The “love” of it all felt kinda shallow, especially since Hibbert skipped the 6 weeks of courting I would have wanted to see as it was the reason Nik felt like he wanted Aria forever.
I know I read romance for the unbelievable storyline (though as Kennedy Ryan points out, a person treating you with love, honor and respect should not be so far-fetched) but still. I was hooked by the foot kicking, precious-ness of it but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to see the falling.
The 🌶️ of this one was unreal. Seriously my jaw dropped. Anyway, I will not be discussing but wow. It’s a…wow.
I appreciated that Nik was finally honest and that the break up didn’t come from his secret being revealed. I personally don’t see Nik’s lie as that bad, but I do see how Aria will felt betrayed with her trust issues and previous trauma.
I do wish Talia had done something with Shenker though so that that drama was worth it. That just felt like a thread we didn’t resolve other than Aria telling him off. He seemed like he was going to be a bigger problem, though I guess he was a catalyst for Aria’s acceptance of her feelings. And maybe a foil of Nik to make his more desirable.
Talia did the “beast inside him” thing too much for this not to be a fantasy. That took me from the story a bit too. I was, early on, expecting him to grow some fur and fangs with all that “mine” business.
I’m really really glad that Aria got her HEA and that the epilogue was so far in the future. It’s a nice deviation from Hibbert’s usual epilogue pacing. That said, it definitely needed more detail and flavor to be worth the addition. It scratched the itch but I would have like more backstory if we were going to have such a big time jump.
And more story overall really. This was a quick, novella type but she certainly could have lain into the details more.
But Hibbert did what she always does; crushed it and I loved it. Though comparing this book to the Brown sisters universe, it’s lower on my list of favorites.
Aria is a hot, tattooed RBF type with a deep need for affection, recovering from romantic trust issues and betrayal (way more seriously than I thought when I first opened this book).
Nik is a hot, rich sl*t recovering from his own hubris, a busted knee ensuring in a career change and a lifestyle of apoiled behaviors.
Basically the whole book is love at first sight, “he falls first” and spends the book lying and wooing her with his loveable, vulgar friends. The conflict and ending were (as one expects in a contemporary romance) predictable.
*spoliers*
I guess I don’t believe in love at first sight though so it was hard to suspend my disbelief for that. The “love” of it all felt kinda shallow, especially since Hibbert skipped the 6 weeks of courting I would have wanted to see as it was the reason Nik felt like he wanted Aria forever.
I know I read romance for the unbelievable storyline (though as Kennedy Ryan points out, a person treating you with love, honor and respect should not be so far-fetched) but still. I was hooked by the foot kicking, precious-ness of it but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to see the falling.
The 🌶️ of this one was unreal. Seriously my jaw dropped. Anyway, I will not be discussing but wow. It’s a…wow.
I appreciated that Nik was finally honest and that the break up didn’t come from his secret being revealed. I personally don’t see Nik’s lie as that bad, but I do see how Aria will felt betrayed with her trust issues and previous trauma.
I do wish Talia had done something with Shenker though so that that drama was worth it. That just felt like a thread we didn’t resolve other than Aria telling him off. He seemed like he was going to be a bigger problem, though I guess he was a catalyst for Aria’s acceptance of her feelings. And maybe a foil of Nik to make his more desirable.
Talia did the “beast inside him” thing too much for this not to be a fantasy. That took me from the story a bit too. I was, early on, expecting him to grow some fur and fangs with all that “mine” business.
I’m really really glad that Aria got her HEA and that the epilogue was so far in the future. It’s a nice deviation from Hibbert’s usual epilogue pacing. That said, it definitely needed more detail and flavor to be worth the addition. It scratched the itch but I would have like more backstory if we were going to have such a big time jump.
And more story overall really. This was a quick, novella type but she certainly could have lain into the details more.
But Hibbert did what she always does; crushed it and I loved it. Though comparing this book to the Brown sisters universe, it’s lower on my list of favorites.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Gun violence
Moderate: Biphobia and Kidnapping
lunarreads's review against another edition
I normally adore Talia Hibbert's books (highly recommend the Brown sisters trilogy or The Roommate Risk!), but I don't know why, this one did NOT work for me in terms of the writing style or just how it went from ohthey kissed and now hes like head over heels somehow? despite being calling himself a player? , and personally right now, I'm in a reading slump and was hoping this would break me out of it, but it did not, so it's a dnf for me.
deidrelj's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
behindherpages's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
had to suspend my belief a little for this one