Close

Loved it

It has been ages since I read a Laurelin Paige book and I cannot help but wonder why. Having read and loved previous books, way before I started reviewing, I was anxious to catch up on some of her stories.
It is refreshing to listen to a story where the woman is older than the man. Nick Ryder has had a crush on Natalia Lowen for years and once he meets her, it only escalates. The chemistry between them is intense and Nick decides against his better judgement to pursue Natalia. He is shocked when she leaves but as he “never chases a woman” he lets her go.
Over the next few weeks they keep bumping into each, co-incidence or not? Nick finally convinces Natalia that they need to explore the attraction that is sizzling between them although keeping it under the radar will be difficult.
What starts as a fling morphs in to so much more and I have to say I was glued to my earphones as I listened to this story. Close is a sweet, romantic, love story which totally brought a smile to my face.
There were so many swoon worthy moments throughout Close and I loved the camaraderie between Natalia and her girlfriends which had me in stitches at times. I also loved the playfulness between Nick and Natalia as they spent time together.
Close was one of those books that once I started I couldn’t put down. I absolutely adored Nick and Natalia both as individuals and also as a couple. Although Nick and Natalia are so different they really do make an amazing couple. Ms. Paige had me hook, line and sinker and I just adored the story line.
The narrators Jacob Morgan and Carly Robins did a fabulous job bringing Close to life.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Yes, Yes, Yes,!!!! ♥️♥️🔥🔥🔥

Oh heck yeah!!! Way to end the year Laurelin Page. This was the best book and so sexy and hot I had to drink gallons of water while reading. (lol)

Carly Robbins and Jacob Morgan narrated this book so well. Best story, best author and best narration. I've listened to so many good books this year and everytime I think I've found my favorite I keep finding good books like this one.

We all love Jacob and Carly is awesome with her humor and sassiness. Laureline Page is one of the best authors and I'll keep using my credits on her books. Loved the dual narration. This book was Mmmmm good!!.

Congrats to all of the writers, authors and narrators for a really good audible year. Lost a lot of sleep too. 😉

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Carly Robins voice is so annoying ughhhhhhhh

This book would have been so much better if the female narrator was different. She was so annoying I found myself getting so aggravated I couldn't enjoy the story. Jacob Morgan is great as always and the story was mediocre at best…

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Ugh, misunderstood celebrities...again.

I live in Hollywood, so I have a different viewpoint of this story.

Two SUPER attractive white people (their age really does not matter in this world) who have no normal people problems to overcome because they have both been famous for a good chunk of their lives. Hollywood is a treasure trove "unconventional" relationships, so their age thing and how fast they get together (hello world of 3 day marriage - that is Hollywood). I can't really identify with either character in this story.

One thing I wish writers of famous people would stop doing is compartmentalizing their fame as if seeking that celebrity/being on stage/starring in a movie - isn't the consequence of their drive, but it's what they originally wanted. Them being alone is what they sacrificed for the fame. If you've ever met someone who needs to be on stage, who needs to preform, you'd understand. This is what they wanted, they fought hard for. Its not a byproduct of their work, which so many of these stories try to do to make the characters seem 'human'. Naw.

Also, do you know how rare it is to be an actual blonde or a red head? Yet everyone in these stories is one or the other a vast majority of the time. Come on writers, diversify the aesthetic of your characters!

These are two of my favorite narrators and I couldn't even finish this. There is nothing new in the way these characters are: The now adult rock star who's looking to prove himself with his new sound, the 'aging' starlet who wants to be grounded and blah blah blah.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Ridiculous premise for a grown woman

Age is not an issue in Hollywood. I understand that often entertainment celebrities are insecure.... However, a 36 year old, very attractive, affluent woman with this much trepidation about a consensual relationship did not appeal. Therefore, I didn't connect with the characters, so I won't remember their romance two seconds after I've finished.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

❤️ LOVED IT! ❤️

Sweet love story without the unnecessary fluff. The Hero is a young and extremely successful rock star, and the Heroine is an older and extremely successful movie star. The logistics of their relationship unfold nicely, showing the younger rock star to be more mature than the older movie star.

Light and sweet, with a wonderful Happily Ever After!

Loved everything about this book, and the narrators were perfect!

5 Lovely Stars!

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

not your typical rocker romance

I stumbled onto this title after really loving this authors other work. And I love a good rocker romance so I dived right in.
This story follows two celebs....the goody good actress Natalia and the boy band turned rock god Nick. after a break up, she goes out with her girls to prove she's over her ex and has a very steamy grinding session on the dance floor with Nick Ryder. problem is he's 23 and she's 36 (And has an image that cannot include a bad boy rocker 13 years her junior). They have a steamy makeout session which makes him determined to see more of her, and in turn she tries to avoid him. finally the stars align and she decides to offer him a no strings attached physical thing. the rest of the story is all about this hot bad rocker literally rocking her sheltered sex world. of course feelings get involved, feelings are rejected, someone "runs", and of course one gets their heartbroken. but in the end the image isn't so important when that once in a lifetime love is sacrificed in the process.
All in all, this title had it all for me. a bad boy with a big heart. a female who was open to explore her sexuality. some hot smexy scenes. the only reason I took one star off is I felt at times it was predictable and didn't have enough angst or drama. Also, the female lead was very stuck up at times and it made me mad that she acted as if he would ruin her image.
As for the narrators: Jacob was amazing. he's new to me but I'm going to definitely add him on my list to find more of. as for Carly, her voice was pleasant and had an almost calming effect, and most of the time I thought she made the perfect Natalia. but other times she sounded a bit too refined for a 36 year old.
worth the listen? absolutely!

I honestly don’t know what I love this so much.

I have read this book several times and it’s such a pleasing and satisfying listen for me. The May-December (age gap) romance which doesn’t involve a teen. The actress and rockstar fantasy. The uninhibited sex and attraction. A few parts are weak, but the blossoming of love between the characters just warms my heart. It’s a total HEA, but one that was set up with the end game so early on. I just love it.

Worth every second

Its been a while since I have enjoyed a book this much!! Jacob Morgan is always amazing but the feels are sooooooo good in this book!

Girl next door tames bad boy rocker

If you have always pulled for Jennifer Aniston to get her happily ever after, then this is the book for you. I kept thinking this could be the story if she and John Mayer had worked out.

Nick is a 23 year old rocker that women flock to. Natalia is a 36 year old actress who is America’s sweetheart, the girl next door. How could they possibly work? The answer...like an Oscar winning musical.