Audiobook Review: Sweet Nothings (Amuse Bouche #1) by T. Neilson

Will a bitter bite from the past spoil a sweet romance?

Tristan Love, the youngest of seven brothers, is back in his hometown. He’s left the New York food scene and an abusive relationship behind him, but he holds his love of French pastries close to his heart and is determined to put his skills to use in a bakery of his own.

Returning to his childhood home means his meddlesome brother Simon will butt into his business, but before the bakery even opens its doors, Tristan’s delectable creations have the town’s mouths watering, and Jake, a cute mechanic, asks Tristan out. It all seems worthwhile….

That is, until the bakery burns down, Jake’s criminal past comes to light, and Tristan’s nasty ex rears his head where he is decidedly not wanted.

Listening Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins
Narrator: Simon Ferrar 

Equal parts fluff and seriousness...


What I liked about this story was that it’s all about personal second chances. Tristan has been in a very toxic abusive relationship, and he gets the courage and motivation to leave it all behind. When he moves back home to open his own bakery, Tristan can finally take a breather and focus on himself for once. When he catches the interest of hunky Jake, who is trying to forge a new life as well, things definitely start to look up for both of them.


Jake and Tristan hit if off immediately. They are not without their challenges in starting a relationship. Jake has a shady past. Tristan has infuriating protective older brothers who love to be infuriating. Go ahead and add in a crazy ex boyfriend hell bent on revenge, and they might be doomed before they even really start.


Narrated by Simon Ferrar, this was my second listening experience from him, and I still have the same opinion. I enjoyed his performance except when it came to how he voiced one of the MC’s, which again, felt incongruent and was often distracting. Despite that, this was a good romance. Admittedly, there were several moments of disbelief that I just had to ignore regarding the ex’s evil machinations - who cares about plausibility right?? However, in the grand scheme of things, this was very nicely sexy, the relationship progression was equally sweet and enjoyable and thus, I deem this a win!


Thank you to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobook Review: The Charlatan's Conquest (Phantom Fixers #1) by Vivien Dean

A Phantom Fixers Story

With love and ghosts, the challenge is figuring out what’s real.

Software engineer Cruz Guthrie needs money for his sister’s cancer treatments. He needs it so badly he’s willing to stand in for a ghost hunter friend and investigate a millionaire’s supposed specters. It should be an easy gig—after all, nobody thinks the haunting is real.

Neurological researcher Brody Weber is furious that Cruz would take advantage of Brody’s father. But his mind changes when spirits manifest—and he realizes Cruz genuinely wants to help. When they learn the paranormal activity centers on Brody, Cruz is willing to fight to free Brody from the entities determined to make his life miserable. With a little help from friends and family—both living and dead—they must figure out why Brody is attracting spirits and how to banish them. Only then can they pursue a future together.

Narrated by Simon Ferrar
Listening Length: 4 hours and 48 minutes

Just spooky enough for a Big Ole Chicken like me.

Story - 3 Hearts
Narration - 4 Hearts

I'm not much on ghosts or being scared. I don't do horror. Serial killers = YYYYAAAAAAASSSSSSS!!!!!! The Ring =

But this story was entertaining with just the right amount of freaky ghosty things that didn't push me into the blanket fort. The pacing is upbeat as far as the action plotline goes with the romance plotline being more of a slow burn, quiet. Dean did a good job of developing a connection between Cruz and Brody, though I think the romance took a backseat to the suspense.

Cruz is filling in for his best friend Étienne on a phony ghost eviction for Brody's father, Lauren. Brody drops in to ensure his father's not getting swindled when some freakiness starts happening. Soon Brody and Cruz are working together in an effort to literally try to exorcise Brody's ghosts.

Both Cruz and Brody are fairly well developed with Cruz being the quintessential caregiver and Brody being the skeptic. There were a few nice moments with Cruz's family that fleshed him out. There's only one sex scene but it was nice and sexy enough for me as far as this series is concerned.

But the standout for me was the phenomenal job Ferrar did with the voices. I particularly liked his voice for Étienne because that's how you do a Cajun drawl! I wasn't crazy about his Brody voice but he differentiated all the characters well and emoted, plus I enjoyed the cadence of his voice and I LOVED that he rolled that "r" in the sister's name every time! RAWR! I'll be listening to him again.

Recommend to paranormal romance fans.

A review copy was provided.