the setup…
Braden Mack considers himself an expert in relationships, especially in his self-appointed role as chief advisor of the Bromance Book Club. He’s yet to find a partner for a committed relationship but thinks he’s found the one. When he takes her to the hottest restaurant in town to declare himself, it turns into a disaster that takes pastry chef Liv Papandreas down with him. She loses her job as a result, compounded even more when she catches her boss, celebrity chef Royce Preston sexually harassing the unwilling hostess. Determined to make it up to Liv, Braden teams up with her to expose Royce but finds his heart equally at risk as he falls for this prickly woman.
the heart of the story…
I was still out of sorts with Liv from the last story so I didn’t have high hopes here and I wasn’t impressed with the slick Braden either. Fortunately, having their individual points of view provides a fresh perspective and I ended up adoring Braden. Liv was still a hard bargain but once I learned of her sad childhood experiences, she became much more likable and the walls she constructed made sense. I liked how their romance evolved, with Braden working hard to knock down those walls, brick by brick. And, there’s a lot more substance to him than I’d imagined.
the narration…
I’m enjoying Andrew Eiden as the voice of the series, particularly the humorous aspects as there are many of them. He sets the right tone and pace for the stories.
the bottom line…
I’m pleasantly surprised that I ended up enjoying this romantic pairing when I had such low expectations. Both Liv and Braden have more complexities than I’d imagined and the serious overtones related to workplace harassment gave this story heft. This was enjoyable, despite Liv’s stubbornness and prickliness, and the inclusion of the Bromance members brought the fun. This is turning out to be the series I’d hoped it to be.
Book Info
- Release Date: March 10, 2020
- Series: Bromance Book Club #2
- Narrator: Andrew Eiden
- Audio Length: 9 hours, 8 minutes
- Publisher: Penguin Audio
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(Thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Blue Mood Café 
I do like a bit of heft in my romcoms. This actually sounds very good. I had seen it around but didn’t pay much attention to it. Now you have me thinking that I need to read it. Excellent review, Jo!
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Thank you, Tessa💜 It’s unique and I’m loving the male point of view about romance.
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Going in with low expectations is sometime the key to enjoying a book. Wonderful review!
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Thank you, Marialyce💜 It’s why I stalled moving forward with the series!
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Glad this one worked out for you Jo. I enjoyed Andrew Eiden’s narration for When in Rome he’s good at reading humorous stories!
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Thanks, Nicki💜 He’s got a wry wit that manages to come through subtly. It’s working for me. I’ll have to bump up When in Rome.
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This one is one of my favorites in the series. The first book is actually my least favorite. ? Great review!
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Thanks, Anne💜 I skimmed the first book again and liked it more the second time around.
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Fab review! I need to find time to start this series ASAP…
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Thanks, Yvo💜 Wonderful that you’re making this series a priority.
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I’m so glad to hear this one exceeded your expectations. The third book in the series is actually my favorite so far, so if you keep going, I hope that one’s a good read for you as well.
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Thank you, Suzanne💜 I’m reading the series with a group, so it’s up next!
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Wonderful review, Jo. I like that their is always a serious storyline in each of these books.
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