Cake by J. Bengtsson @j_bengtsson @offmicandi @therealjoearden @hambright_pr #Cake

the setup…
College student Casey Caldwell is one of the bridesmaids in her friend’s upcoming wedding. She’s suddenly paired with the groom’s rock star brother, Jake McKallister and is a little thrown by it. While she’s well known for being direct and outspoken, the extremely famous and talented Jake has a reputation of being quite the opposite, shaped by a traumatic event that happened to him when he was thirteen years old. Their meeting at the rehearsal dinner was unremarkable until she does something that not only gets his attention, but has him connect with her in a way he’s never experienced and she never saw coming.

the heart of the story…
Jake keeps most people other than his big, loving family on the perimeter after surviving that horrific experience. He’s never had a meaningful relationship with any woman, unable to open his heart that way…until Casey. I really liked her spirit and outlook and while she was initially awestruck by Jake, that lasted about a minute following their introduction. Their attraction developed fast and furious over that weekend but didn’t have that typical instalove feeling. She introduced him to a whole new spectrum of emotions and he let her into his crazy world to her. While tragedy stunted his growth emotionally, it also was the foundation for his artistry.

the narration…
Andi Arndt has long been a favorite and she nailed all that was special about Casey. Joe Arden gave Jake a voice that captured his reticence and personality. I enjoyed both of their performances.

the bottom line…
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a rock star romance but this was on a different level. Jake’s world was insane and I have a new appreciation for the demands put upon famous people. Casey was his refuge and I loved how their differences made the relationship work. Jake’s demons were real, even after ten years, and adds weight. His family plays an integral role here, too, including four brothers and two sisters. I not only loved this story but am now hooked enough to continue the series. You’ll have to read it to understand the title.

Book Info

• Release Date: December 1, 2016
• Series: Cake #1
• Narrators: Andi Arndt & Joe Arden
• Audio Length: 12 hours, 42 minutes
• Publisher: Self

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(Thanks to the author and Hambright PR for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)