✫✫ 5 Stars ✫✫

ASKING FOR A FREIND
Another awesome Lauren Blakely book! I am so excited about this new series after finishing book 1. I was in love with this book because of all the "book love" and banter. Seriously these characters work in publishing so they both love books and their flirting and banter has a lot of book related stuff and that was my complete downfall!
This is a sort of "You've Got Mail" storyline which made it even better. They spend a lot of time chatting and being honest with each other before they even know who each other is so their attraction and their connection felt so real. She was probably more honest than she would have been since she wasn't trying to catch him for herself which is another thing I loved about it. This book felt seriously fun, sexy and sweet all in one perfect package. I can't wait for book 2, thankfully it's LB so we won't be waiting very long. Amy was such a fun character, she is so witty and inner monologue had me giggling through out the story. I was sold at Jason Clarke and Andi Arndt! They are both fantastic narrators and did an amazing job bringing the banter, wit and chemistry out in these characters
And Erin Mallon and Zachery Webber were also perfect in this performance, you seriously can't go wrong with this all star cast!!

SEX AND OTHER SHINY OBJECTS
Sex and Other Shiny Objects is another fun loving, quirky, sweet & sexy friends to lovers story from Lauren Blakely. Even though this is a friends to lovers, it is also a single parent trope with a man raising his teenage brother and that is my weakness. A man who is trying to do his best to raise a sibling or child on his own is something that grabs my heart strings every time so I loved Tristan from the very beginning. I loved all of the relationships in this book. Tristan and Peyton have chemistry that they both try to ignore, they are comfortable with each other and their flirty banter and concern for each other is a complete winner in my book. Tristan and his brother have a great relationship too, I loved their sarcasm and how close they are, it was super sweet.
I did find the main story line was a little silly but in a fun Rom-Com kind of way and the sex scenes were pretty hot with a little dirty talk add too. It's not a surprise to say I enjoyed it and I always appreciate that in her books, the drama is low and the characters are mature which is something rare in contemporary romance.
The narration was outstanding. Lauren casts the best of the best for all of her audiobooks but even more, she adds fun little parts with cameo narrators which for me is perfection. Nothing better then hearing some of your favorite narrators included in small parts of an already amazingly cast audiobook.

ONE NIGHT STAND-IN
Anyone who knows me, knows I love Lauren Blakely! Her books are always so fun and flirty and this one is that and more. What's fun in this one is the scavenger hunt. What a perfect way to fall in love, toss two people together who were once almost a thing and watch the magic come together. This was also pretty steamy with some sexy talk and with their chemistry there is no way you didn't feel them falling in love. The way the scavenger hunt came together was a little cheesy but in a good funny way and the ending was super cute. This book has some of the best Lauren Blakely banter yet because there is banter between ALL of the characters.
The narration was perfect which is no surprise. Andi & Jason were great but I love the fun little visits by some of my favorite narrators too. Especially loved that Erin Mallon's roll was all man ;)

YOUR FRENCH KISSES
Two novelettes in one book. Gotta love that!
Your French Kisses: Marley & Reid story is about love at first sight, timing and the one that got away... almost. This is a sweet and dreamy novella that remind us that no matter where you are in life, today could be the day you meet the person of your dreams and if it's meant to be it will be...eventually. Erin Mallon & Shane East were perfect as always, they both do great flirty characters with a lot of emotions.
Too Good To Be True: Cute and flirty short story about Olivia and Herb, Olivia is Flynn's sister. It's been awhile since I listened to Come As You Are and after listening to this story, I think I need a re-listen very soon! Joe Arden and Andi Arndt were great. Lots of silly in this one and Andi that had me giggling.

OVERNIGHT SEVICE
It comes as no surprise to me that Lauren Blakely does it again. She has a way of giving us sweet, fun and sexy audiobooks every time. As always, I love her writing style, characters and narrators. I'm convinced she is amazing at everything she does.
In Overnight Service we get Josh & Haven's story. These two have the connection, great chemistry and you just know they belong together from the very beginning. Their story is a mix of second chance & enemies to lovers but I don't think they were ever actual enemies ;) I loved that there is attraction between competitors with out things getting to dirty. The competition for me just feeds into the serious chemistry between them. Also in this story we have a few characters that you just know will be getting their own stories soon too. This group of friends/family just keeps growing. Keep them coming!
As with all LB books, I love that there are so many characters in every book. Most from other books so it's like visiting with old friends. And my favorite thing about her writing is that the characters are mature and the drama is pretty much non-existent. For someone like me who is highly against all the unnecessary drama, Lauren Blakely's books are my comfort listens. I could listen over and over again.
The narration was perfect as always!!!!! I swear Lauren Blakely is the queen of Audio. She always has the perfect narrators for the character and all of them are always amazing. It's like she writes these books specifically for audio and that right there puts her at the top of my list.


***The Engagement Gift***
This seriously HOT and SEXY erotic novella at the end of Overnight Service was a big treat!
Lily & Finn have a crazy hot sex life to begin with but when Finn finally gets her to admit her biggest fantasy, this book caught on fire!!!!!! I love ménage books but I'm not normally big on novellas because usually erotic novellas seem more like a sex scene with no story but not this one... seriously this is full of content, emotions, fun teasing and awesome dirty talk.
Because they are engaged we get to feel the connection and love between them. This didn't feel like a dirty story as much as a small glimpse into their love life. I was so glad that the third person in this ménage is filled with emotion. I can't wait for Jake's story, I hope his HEA is as hot as his engagement gift to Lily & Finn.
The narration was PERFECT!! Teddy Hamilton always sets me on fire so listening to him narrate a ménage scene... WOW!!!!!

5 people found this helpful

Enjoyable listen

All of these titles had witty banter and laugh out loud humor. I love LB's titles of places the couples visit. They all had something in common: Will they or won't they get together, angst. Lots of well written steamy scenes as well. Great value for all these stories. All the narrators were enjoyable to listen to and so glad Jason Clarke and Andi Arndt took the lead. Note: the last story "Overnight Service" is in the Always Satisfying collection.

2 people found this helpful

Amazing Boxed Set!

This boxed set includes Asking for a Friend, Sex and Other Shiny Objects, One Night Stand-In, and Overnight Service. All stories are sweet, fun, sexy, and heartwarming. The narrators did an excellent job bringing the stories to life. If you like a friends-to-lovers romance, a second-chance romance, and an enemies-to-lovers romance, this boxed set is for you. I highly recommend it.

Not my favorite

I love Lauren ❤️ she writes such great romances and her MM sex scenes are so very steamy.
Her FM sex scenes are lacking in many ways. Lauren doesn't seem to detail the FM scenes the way she does the MM ones which is a bit puzzling to me.

However, that is not what turned me away from the books in this collection. I haven't listened to book 3 yet but books 1 & 2 drive me crazy with the never ending back and forth in the minds of the main characters.

In book 2 They are supposedly 2 adults. Two business owning adults, yet they can't even be honest with each other. They are long time best friends but they won't be honest with each other & can't read one another, at all? Really?

The negativity & insecurity in books 1 & 2 was dragged out way too long for my liking.

With that said now, let me give positive praise to the narrators. They did such a great job in these books.

Not my fave

The first book just rambled to much on about nonsense. I tried so hard to stick with it. Second book not my favorite either. It also rambled on about boring conversations. Third. Better but honestly I was very disappointed using my credit on this one.

It was ok

A lot of salty bits, but I would have liked more story to support the falling in love fast.

Great Collection

I enjoyed all the stories. I just feel I was shorted on the story called: Your French Kisses. However, at the same time, they spent such a short time together compared to 3 years apart. What can you really write? 🤔 That long searching for each other will definitely explode once you meet again.

I had previously read it

As I said, I have previously read it. However, by the time I realized it (I have memory issues), I was already partly into the first book. I figured since there were four, I might as well re-read them. I love the narrator anyway.

This is so good

I laughed and loved every minute. These are some of the best books. Can’t wait to listen to more books by this writer. The performances were amazing!!

So much Fun!!!

Wow! The Boyfriend Material Collection was amazing and definitely worth it. This book was long but highly enjoyable! I love the way Lauren Blakely writes. The narrators always do a spectacular job. I would highly recommend this collection! I felt engaged the whole time! I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.