Your Inescapable Love by Layla Hagen
The Bennett Family #4
Narrated by: Sebastian York and Lidia Dornet
Release Date: February 28, 2017
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Tantor Media
Rating: 3 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017NewRelease, #AudioChallenge, #TakeControlTBR
Goodreads
Synopsis
Max Bennett was nine years old the first time he met Emilia. The two formed a tight friendship that lasted for years until she moved away. Now, years later, Max enjoys a successful career and loves his life: carefree and fun. He has everything he wants and does not intend to settle down anytime soon (even though his family might have other ideas). But when a chance encounter brings him face-to-face with Emilia, he starts questioning everything. Emilia Campbell has a lot on her plate, taking care of her sick grandmother. After practically being left at the altar, Emilia has sworn off men...until the childhood friend she hero-worshipped and hasn't quite forgotten steps into her clinic. Max is every bit the troublemaker she remembers, only now he has a body to drool over. They are both determined not to cross the boundaries of friendship. But as their chemistry spirals out of control, can Emilia trust her childhood hero with the key to her heart and accept she might have found her one true love? Contains mature themes.
Your Inescapable Love gives us Max Bennett's story. Now I'm a sucker for the friends-to-lovers trope so when I realized Max and Emilia had been friends when they were kids, I was eager to see how this would come together.
Max is a rather determined bachelor, believing he doesn't have time for romance since he's so focused on work. He's an excellent negotiator and makes Bennett Enterprises lots of money. Lest you think he's all work and no play, know that he and his twin, Christopher, are the pranksters of the Bennett clan, doing things like switching places to get out of dinner duty to kissing girls.
Emilia was raised by her Grams after losing her mother and having her father bail. Now she works hard as a physical therapist as well as caring for her Grams, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She is driven in her career and with the demands on her time caring for her Grams, romance isn't on her radar.
Then Max walks into her clinic. And lucky Emilia is his PT. They immediately begin cathing up, not having seen each other for years. They also have an immediate attraction, something they both try to ignore until they can't.
I liked how their romance blossomed - Emilia having some baggage but Max being baggage-free and more than willing to take on helping Emilia shed hers. Some of Emilia's baggage felt a little contrived though. And I felt like their story could have had more depth in some ways. They had history and more could have been done with it.
The Bennett clan wasn't around as much in this installment and I found I really missed them. he dynamics between all the siblings adds more dimension to the stories and while they were present, they didn't have prominent roles and... well, I just missed that. I'm guessing Christopher will be the next to fall and I'm eager to witness that.
Lidia Dornet and Sebastian York narrated and were fabulous. They brought Max and Emilia to life and kept the story flowing. Dornet even added a bit of action in some scenes which better conveyed the emotions of those scenes. York is simply ear-candy. ;)
Your Forever Love by Layla Hagen
The Bennett Family #3
Narrated by: Jeremy York and Kendall Taylor
Release Date: August 30, 2016
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Tantor Media
Rating: 3.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #AudioChallenge, #ShelfLove, #TakeControlTBR
Goodreads
Synopsis
Eric Callahan is a powerful man, and his sharp business sense has earned him the nickname Shark. Yet under this facade is a man who loves his daughter and would do anything for her. When he and his daughter move to San Francisco for three months, he has one things in mind: expanding his business. As a widower, Eric is not looking for love. He focuses on his company, and his daughter - until he meets Pippa Bennett. She captivates him from the moment he sets eyes on her. Pippa Bennett knows she should stay away from Eric Callahan. After going through a rough divorce, she doesn't trust men anymore. But there's something about him that draws her in. He has a body made for sin, and a sense of humor that matches hers. Not to mention seeing how adorable he is with his daughter melts her walls one by one. The chemistry between them is undeniable, but it's the connection that grows deeper every day that has them wondering if love might be within reach. When it's time for Eric and his daughter to go home, will he give up on the woman who has captured his heart or do everything he can to remain by her side?
Pippa Bennett has been the driving force behind all the matchmaking in the Bennett family - as evidenced by Sebastian's wedding and Logan's engagement - so it was fun to see the tables turned on her.
Pippa hasn't had it easy in love - the only one to have married and then divorced in the Bennett clan. Her ex was a real piece of work - marrying her for her money - and he did a number of her self-confidence.
Eric Callahan is the CEO of his family's company and considered a shark in the business world. But outside of the office, he's a softie. Oh, he's all alphas but when it comes to his daughter, he melts with a look. He's a single dad, having lost his wife. Since then, he's devoted his life to his daughter and his business.
Neither Pippa nor Eric want anything to do with love or romance but when it comes to the other they can't seem to help themselves.
I enjoyed watching Pippa and Eric's second chance at love - the fall was sweet. I loved that the Bennett clan was present and we got to spend time with them. And I adored Eric's daughter Julie. It's always a joy when children are incorporated into a story and although she could have played a more prominent role, I didn't feel she was a gratuitous addition.
For all their reasons for avoiding romance, I felt Pippa maybe gave in a bit too easily while I was agreeing with Eric's mom in that he needed to pull his head out. There was also a little more predictability in this installment but it was still a fun read.
Jeremy York and Kendall Taylor did well with the narration, even with Julie's 12 year old voice. They both handled the multiple voices of the cast well, kept the pacing even, and infused the story with the proper emotions.
Overall, I'm still a Bennett Family fan...I'm eager to watch the rest of them fall. On to Your Inescapable Love.
Your Captivating Love by Layla Hagen
The Bennett Family #2
Narrated by: Carly Robins and Nelson Hobbs
Release Date: August 30, 2016
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Tantor Media
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: #AudioChallenge, #ShelfLove, #TakeControlTBR
Goodreads
Synopsis
Logan Bennett knows his priorities. He's loyal to his family and his company. He has no time for love, and no desire for it - not after a disastrous engagement left him brokenhearted. But when Nadine enters his life, she turns everything upside down. She's sexy, funny, and utterly captivating. She's also more stubborn than anyone he's met...including himself. Nadine Hawthorne is finally pursuing her dream: opening her own clothing shop. After working so hard to get here, she needs to concentrate on her new business, and can't afford distractions - not even if they come in the form of Logan Bennett. He's handsome, charming, and doesn't take no for an answer. Their attraction is sizzling, their connection undeniable. Slowly, Logan wins her over. What starts out as a fling soon spirals into much more than they are prepared for. When a mistake threatens to tear them apart, will they have the strength to hold on to each other?
Your Captivating Love was, well, captivating. Already being familiar with the characters and their world enabled me to fall right into Logan and Nadine's story. Witnessing their fall was delightful.
Logan's an intelligent man - he's CFO of Bennett Enterprises after all. He's also determined, loyal, and a bit of a workaholic. He's been unlucky in love - his fiance breaking things off because he focused more on business than her. So he steers clear of romantic entanglements, not wanting to be hurt again.
Nadine, Ava's best friend, has recently relocated to San Francisco hoping to make her dream of owning a high-end dress shop - featuring original designs by her - a reality. She's creative, smart, and tenacious. She's also vivacious. But she's been hurt as well - and her confidence was shattered causing her to put her dreams on hold...until now. She also had a difficult childhood which left its mark. But when Logan and Nadine meet, their chemistry immediately sparked and all their determination to not get involved kinda went out the window.
I so much enjoyed watching as Logan and Nadine built a strong foundation for their relationship - seeing Logan support Nadine in achieving her dream and seeing Nadine learn to trust that Logan wasn't going to run. It was sweet how they each got under the other's skin, chipping away at those walls they'd built - and even sweeter when they fell.
Spending time with the Bennett clan was also fun. Getting to know them even better - how their dynamics work...well, it's easy to see why they're all so close and I'm eager to spend even more time with them.
I do want to say that the narration made my pleasure at listening more intense. Robins and Hobbs more deftly conveyed the emotions wrought in this story as well as kept the pacing smooth. They easily managed voicing the large cast, too. Even though I didn't dislike the narration in book 1, I was amazed at the difference in the level of my enjoyment with the narration here.
Your Irresistible Love by Layla Hagen
The Bennett Family #1
Narrated by: Aiden Snow and Kasha Kensington
Release Date: August 2, 2016
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Tantor Media
Rating: 3.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #AudioChallenge, #ShelfLove, #TakeControlTBR
Goodreads
Synopsis
Sebastian Bennett is a determined man. It's the secret behind the business empire he built from scratch. Under his rule, Bennett Enterprises dominates the jewelry industry. Despite being ruthless in his work, family comes first for Sebastian, and he'd do anything for his parents and eight siblings-even if they drive him crazy sometimes...like when they keep nagging him to get married already. Sebastian doesn't believe in love, until he brings in external marketing consultant Ava to oversee the next collection launch. She's beautiful, funny, and just as stubborn as he is. Not only is he obsessed with her delicious curves, but he also finds himself willing to do anything to make her smile. Ava Lindt has one job to do at Bennett Enterprises: make the next collection launch unforgettable. Daydreaming about the hot CEO is definitely not on her to-do list. Besides, the consultancy she works for has a strict policy-no fraternizing with clients. She won't risk her job. But soon their sizzling chemistry spirals into a deep connection that takes both of them by surprise...
I'm a sucker for a story or series revolving around family so the nine Bennett siblings and their parents had a leg up from the get-go. Getting to meet Sebastian, the oldest Bennett and caretaker/protector of all, and seeing him fall for Ava, the smart, sexy woman who arrives to help with his business marketing was a pleasure.
Both Ava and Sebastian have reasons for not wanting to get involved besides the clause in Ava's consultancy contract forbidding fraternization. Ah, you know what they say about forbidden fruit... The two eventually give in and agree to spend time together while Ava is in town - four months. Being along for the ride as they get to know one another and get closer was nice. Ava is independent and used to taking care of things on her own, never having relied on a man...so Sebastian works his magic trying to convince her she doesn't have to do everything alone. Sebastian is used to women wanting the tangible things his wealth can offer them rather than wanting simply him. Ava sets about proving not all women are like that. With a little meddling and help from the Bennett family, the blossoming romance was fun.
Kasha Kensington and Andrew T. Chandler narrated and while I liked them both just fine, I did think that they weren't always able to convey all the emotion certain scenes required. Kensington's delivery at times made the pacing a bit choppy as well.
Besides the narration, my only complaint is that I would have liked more character growth over the course of the story. But overall, I enjoyed my introduction to the Bennett family and I'm already listening to book 2, Your Captivating Love.
Your Inescapable Love by Layla Hagen
