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Mariposa

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Mariposa

By: Lexie Axelson
Narrated by: James Cassidy, Janine Granda
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About this listen

 A steamy age-gap romance about a unbreakable young woman who joins the Special Forces program, the no-nonsense commander whose job is to break her down, and an incendiary, attraction that threatens to consume them both.

I made it into the special forces course, but there are three problems.
Problem number one? One of my instructors is the infamous Special Operator Beast—a man everyone fears due to his cold heart and polished career. He loathes being away from his team, which makes graduating nearly impossible for all of us, mainly his least favorite student, me.

Problem number two? My heart skips a beat whenever I look into his cruel eyes, and my blood heats whenever he’s near me. He’s tall, scarred, and a devastatingly irresistible man who never smiles.

Oh, and problem number three? He’s my ex-boyfriend’s dad.

We try to stay out of each other’s way to make our reckless attraction fade, but fate keeps bringing us together. The military calls me The Unbreakable Soldier, but falling for Kade O’Connell might be my undoing. Action & Adventure Military Heartfelt Solider
All stars
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This book threw me in for a loop!! I seriously recommend listening to it since the narrators are chefs kiss! I loved the military style story and I loved the characters but I will say there are some pretty big plot holes and the ending was definitely rushed. But overall it was a good book!

Mariposa

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Loved this book so much. The characters, the sacrifices they had to make, the love~~~~the narrators did an amazing job and brought the book to life.

So deep~ all the feels.

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I went into this blind and it took me on a whirlwind! The voice actors were phenomenal and the story was so captivating! Beautiful mix of angst, spice, passion and romance. Definitely one of my newest favourite authors!

Oh daddy Kade

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This is not to be missed. We have our beautifully broken Master Seargant abd his tempting, taunting butterfly ready to wrap him in her gossamer wings. Tense, gritty and powerful delivery at times. James Cassidy and his breathy growls? Yes, yes Sir!

Intense emotional delivery

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If you’re looking for a sweet, fluffy romance to gently rock you to sleep—abort mission. Mariposa sinks its claws into you from the opening moments and refuses to let go. This audiobook is emotional combat: packed with angst, action, grief, love, and torment, all delivered with Lexie Axelson’s signature dark intensity. This is not your typical romance. It’s layered, brutal, heart-clenching storytelling that demands you toughen up and hold it together, especially when the last half detonates and your pulse starts doing dangerous things. Absolute perfection.

At the heart of the story is Violet, an exceptional heroine; strong, stubborn, capable, and quietly shattered by guilt she never should have carried. It’s devastating to witness how unsupported she is by her own mother and sister, blamed for things beyond her control when all she wants is their love. Janine Granda’s narration captures Violet’s resilience and vulnerability flawlessly, letting you feel every crack beneath her strength and every ounce of her determination. Violet doesn’t just survive she endures.

Then there’s Kade. Beast. Violet’s superior. Her ex-boyfriend’s father. Cold, ruthless, and commanding on the surface, yet deeply loyal to his men and unwavering in his sense of responsibility. James Cassidy brings Kade to life with a gravel-edged intensity that perfectly balances authority and restraint. He wants Violet to fail, to go back to her family, to stay far away from him but her fire, her grit, and her refusal to break make that impossible. Watching her dismantle his walls piece by piece is immensely satisfying.

The tension between Violet and Kade is electric. The push and pull, the sharp banter, the internal battles every interaction crackles. Kade fights his attraction hard, but Violet’s brightness keeps cutting through his darkness, and the result is a romance that feels earned, dangerous, and deeply emotional.

Underneath all of this is a fully realised military storyline that raises the stakes even higher: basic training, graduation, missions gone sideways, sabotage, hostage situations, injured comrades, a hunted villain, and careers ending far too soon. This isn’t military romance as window dressing. It’s a military thriller woven seamlessly into the emotional core of the story. It’s a story of grief and loss, of relentless determination, of duty and sacrifice, wrapped around a deliciously intense romance.

The duet narration is top-tier, elevating an already masterful story into an unforgettable listening experience. You don’t just hear Mariposa, you live it. Complex, one of a kind, and impossible to forget, this audiobook will consume you whole… and you’ll thank it for the damage

Not Just a Romance—Mariposa Is an Emotional Combat

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