✫✫ 4.5 Stars ✫✫

I am loving this series! Book 1 was my first by this author and I knew that I had to listen to book 2 as soon as it came out. I absolutely love a friends to lovers story and this one was years in the making which made it even better for me. Mallory & Chad really were a perfect complement to each other. The famous & rich actor with the normal school teacher, I knew then that this would be exactly what I wanted in this book. I really enjoy this authors writing and her characters are all great. I can't wait to see who's book is next!

The narration was perfect!! Jason Clarke is always great, especially when he is narrating a good guy! Erin Mallon is a narrator Goddess in my book! She can narrate anything and I'd listen. Putting these two together in one audiobook is explosive!!!

22 people found this helpful

A SWEET SECOND CHANCES LOVE STORY

For me, Samantha Christy is fast becoming an auto download author.. ok I’ve only listened to two of her books.. but within those two books she gave me the perfect mix of all I wanted. She captivated me with this dual POV story about best friends whose lives took very different paths. She enthralled me as her heroine Mallory accidentally meets a now famous estranged old friend and struggles with herself to give him a second chance because his drugs, women and partying lifestyle had torn them apart years previously. She entertained me as Thad the handsome A list actor couldn’t believe his luck when a chance encounter brings ‘the one’ back into his life. But he’d messed up big in the past so he had to tread very very carefully, hold on tight and fight hard for the woman he’d always been in love with.

Teacher Mallory first squirms when asked on a date by Thad the Hollywood Superstar.. but, when she sees he’s still just Chad her once loyal best friend, Mallory starts to forgive, trust, settle down and let herself open up to hope and possibilities with Thad/Chad. Samantha Christy doesn’t take a wrong step as she navigates two people’s very different lives, reacquaints old friends, rekindles a love that had once blossomed but had never got the chance to grow, merges families and friends, throws in a wrench or two.. and writes a love story about chemistry, soul mates and second chances. With great secondary characters too.

Worth a credit? Yes definitely. This second slice of the Stone Brothers cake didn’t disappoint.. in fact it whets your appetite for more. These handsome sexy Stone brothers meet strong-minded heroines who don’t just fall into their laps like all the rest.. but, as the storylines heat up, sizzle and simmer.. love leads the couples to their HEA’s. Great narration brings the characters, the feels and the action to life.

9 people found this helpful

loved it

Teenage love that was spilt apart from fame and when they meet again and regrets is there but will they get together or not give there love for each other a chance

2 people found this helpful

Wonderful novel!

Really liked the plot. Great ending!
Can't wait to read the next book.
Thanks

1 person found this helpful

pretty good

sweet romance, few if any smiles, the situation with the young girl was a surprise and the drama at the end was definitely a surprise. as always JC was excellent and as always I played all of EM parts much much faster. peace

1 person found this helpful

Chad & Mallory

▪▪▪Review contains spoilers▪▪▪

Audible Escapes review. Dual POV. Book 2 in the Stone Brothers trilogy; starts 3 months after book 1. Narrators are ok but a bit halting in their pace. Great story. Trigger warnings: drugs, gambling, fighting, death caused by a drunk driving accident, amputation caused by an accident from driving under the influence, other woman drama, PCP slipped into a drink and used to seduce, miscarriage.

**uncertain of the spelling of character names**

Chad Christopher Stone (25; aka Thad) is an actor and recovering drug addict (cocaine). At one point he was so high he doesn't even remember the incident that caused the loss of one testicle. He got sober after he drove drive high causing an accident that led to Megan losing her leg. He's known Mallory since he was 7 and she was 6 when his family moved in next door to her family. He was discovered in a shopping center after lying to get Kyle out of trouble. His family moved to California 9 years ago when he was 16, he started using drugs and lost contact with Mallory and Julian. He inherited $10 million from his grandparents. He had pending lawsuits for fights he had in the past while on drugs, bookies still contacting him, and he stole money from his parents before he got his inheritance and money from his sitcom. Mallory Kate Schaffer (24; aka Mal) is a 4th grade teacher and hasn't seen Chad in 9 years when she sees him going to an afterparty. She called Chad "Thad" because of Ethan, he was her protector until he moved away. She went wild after he left and got pregnant at 16 years old and miscarried when she was 17 weeks pregnant. Charlie (Chad's sister-in-law) started volunteering at Hope For Life and even donated $1 million from her inheritance to the charity where Mallory volunteers. A girl is claiming to have Chad's child and there's no resolution within this book or further info after he tells Mallory. Kyle & Mallory have dinner while Chad is in California and she sees a tabloid that released her pic from the hotel room she and Chad shared. Mallory goes to California to visit Chad. Jackie takes her shopping. Mallory finds out about Megan. After Chad comes clean about what finally had him go into rehab they have a beach day with Megan, Alyssa, Julian, Hayden, Ana & Noreen. When Chad returns to work Britney is 8 weeks sober and returns to being professional. They all go rock climbing and Britney butted in on it. Chad struggles on set in a cave with claustrophobia and Mallory reminds him of being trapped in the igloo when they were children and he's able to shoot the scene. Drunk girls cause a problem in a restaurant while they're out on a date. Chad proposes to Mallory on set after his sex scene with Britney and throws her a surprise engagement party. Chad puts his California home up for sale and plans to move to New York to be with Mallory. A teddy bear was eviscerated on Mallory's dad's porch. Mallory moved in with Kyle while Chad was finishing up in California. Chad bought an apartment in Ethan's building and Mallory moved them in. Mallory threw a party to welcome Chad to New York where Richard gave Chad Mallory's mom's rings and Heather drugged Chad. Julian and Chad go to find Mallory in the treehouse at her dad's house and explain that Heather had drugged him.

Epilogue 7 years later: Julian & Anna have a son Brayden (7 years old) and a toddler. Richard & Denise have a son named Ryan (7 years old), Mallory's half brother. Chad and Mallory have a daughter named Kyra (6 years old) and are pregnant. The children are all playing with the basketball together at Richard and Denise's home. JP

Side characters: Kendra Riggs (Chad's publicist; 5 years older; married to Todd). Courtney Benson (actress; Chad's ex; uses drugs). Hayden Keys (Chad's co-star & friend). Ethan Stone (Chad's older brother; Eli's dad; PI; married to Charlie). Kyle Stone (Chad's younger brother; medical student; wants to help homeless people; graduated med school). Paul Quinn (Chad's manager; Lila's new manager; set Chad up so he fired him). Cole Wilcox (Chad's bodyguard). Grayson James (actor). Eli Stone (3 months old, Ethan's son, Chad's nephew). Melissa Connelly (aka Mel; Mallory's college friend; married to Steve; teacher). Julian (Mallory's friend; they dated for a year then cheated on her because they never had sex; known her since she was 6 and he was 7; no contact with Mallory for 3 years after he cheated on her; randomly kissed Melissa after he got the job he wanted and that reunited their friendship; dating Anna; son Brayden). Dr Richard Schaffer (Ryan & Mallory's dad; orthopedic surgeon; widower; engaged to Denise). Mallory's mom (nurse; deceased; killed by a drunk driver 7 years ago; died when Mallory was 17). Charlie (Ethan's wife; Eli's mom; mother is deceased). Jarod (Stone cousin; waiter). Carly Blanchard (assistant principal). Dr Jackie Stone (Ethan, Chad and Kyle's mom). Piper Mitchell (Charlie's best friend). Mason Lawrence (Piper's fiancé; football player). Stone grandparents (deceased 6 years; left the boys $10 million each). Caroline Anthony (deceased actress; Charlie's mom). Skylar Mitchell (manager from Mitchell's restaurant; Piper & Baylor's sister; due in 8 weeks then had a girl; married to Griffin-photographer). Baylor (Skylar & Piper's sister; had a girl). Megan (victim of a car accident Chad had when he was high; she had to have her leg amputated). Heather Crawford (co-star that got him hooked on drugs and later drugged and tried to seduce him). Anna Garner (co-star; pregnant with Julian's baby). Noreen Watkins (dating Hayden after being his co-star). Nikki (Chad's ex NY girl). Ron (Chad's lawyer). Megan's dad & mom (he was a drunk driver and got sober after the accident). Lila (Chad's former co-star; friends with Heather). Caitlin (Chad's former co-star). Joey (Chad's former co-star). Thomas (Chad's former co-star). Jonah (Heather's date). Penny Garrison (high school girl that got pregnant their senior year, her parents kicked her out and Hope For Life helped her after Mallory recommended them). Alyssa (Megan's friend). Denise (Mallory's dad's girlfriend; 10 years younger than him; husband died from cancer 3 years ago; nurse; engaged to Richard and pregnant). David (director). John (assistant director). McIntyre case (settled for $2 million for breaking Lenny McIntyre's arms while Chad was high). The second Jonah (cameraman).

▪Tragedy related to Ethan (no details).
▪Tragedy related to Piper (no details).

1st listen 10-06-20
2nd listen 09-24-21

1 person found this helpful

Meh

I love the first book and I like most books she writes. The narration was amazing but honestly this book was super boring. Every time I thought something exciting was going to happen it was anti-climactic and was way too long for literally barely anything to happen

1 person found this helpful

5 star listen!

Another excellent listen! Samantha Christy has basically become a must listen for me. Erin and Jason great as always.

If I had one critique it would be that the mystery element in this book was introduced really late into it, was obvious and I feel was rather unnecessary in general.

Looking forward to more.

1 person found this helpful

so annoying

This book was so annoying I couldnt tske it.I can't stand books with pathetic female leads and that's what this was. so sad because o liked the first book.

2 people found this helpful

Childhood friends to lovers

Mallory and Chad were best friends for a large part of their childhood, up until Chad’s family moved away and she never heard from him again. They had this deep love that they never got to explore but also never got rid of. Mallory has become a teacher while Chad has become a movie star with a lot of drugs and girls along the way. When they see each other again by chance, Chad takes it as a sign that he can’t let her go again. He makes it his mission to make Mallory his, and at first she is skeptical of how it all can work. The larger part of this story is much lighter and just a sweet uplifting love story. It isn’t until the end where things get a little grittier and complicated. Chad’s celebrity status and the people in his life threaten to ruin everything he has worked for. Can Chad and Mallory overcome this obstacle? Again, the narration in this book was absolutely perfect! Erin and Jason together are powerful!