Listen to Me by Kristen Proby

Narrated by Sebastian York & Arielle DeLisle

I’d heard good things about the print version of Listen to Me and Sebastian York has become one of my favoured male narrators, so I decided to give it a whirl on audio. It turned out to be a Very Good Decision.

Addison Wade co-owns a hip Portland restaurant and bar called Seduction, with four of her friends from college. Addie is in charge of the front of house. At the start of the book, Seduction has just got a rave review from a local food critic and business is booming. Addie is keen to take on a musical act for Friday and Saturday nights to take the business to the next level.

Addie has a weakness for bad boy musicians, as evidenced by her current squeeze, Jeremy. He’s lazy and grasping but good in bed and nice to look at. It was nice to see a heroine who had enjoyed good sex in her life with someone other than the hero.

However, by the time Jake Keller, the man Addie hires to play at Seduction on the weekends, starts work, Jeremy is out of the picture because he’s also a cheating cheater who cheats.

Jake Keller, aka Jake Knox, was the lead singer of Hard Knox, a very popular band which broke up about five years ago. Something happened which led Jake to realise that the rock star lifestyle was bad for him and he walked away. His lead guitarist and buddy, Max, proposed they start producing music instead and they have since created a very successful recording studio which is run from Jake’s home in the hills outside Portland.

Jake also blames himself for his BFF, Christina, losing her leg in a car accident because reasons. He thinks he doesn’t deserve good things in his life. However, after five years of self-flagellation, he desperately misses performing before a live audience. He doesn’t miss the stadium crowds and the sex and drugs part of rock and roll however. The job at Seduction is perfect for him.

Addie is thrilled to have a big star like Jake Keller singing and playing in her restaurant. (As an aside, it struck me as odd that Seduction didn’t have Hard Knox groupies hanging out there once word got out.) Jake is not only a talented musician. He’s gorgeous and the chemistry between them is smokin’. However, she has decided to swear off musicians because they only cause her heartbreak.

Of course, Addie and Jake can’t fight their attraction for long and pretty soon they are scorching up the sheets. Before they get their HEA however, Addie needs to deal with her abandonment and trust issues and Jakes has to put his demons to rest also.

The friendships between Addie and her crew and Jake and his (and the friendships they make when those two groups begin to merge) are highlighted as well and the story has a delightful feel-good quality to it and it is hella sexy.

I think Sebastian York is getting better at his female voices. Otherwise, I’m becoming more forgiving – because all of his performance really worked for me here. I was impressed with his level of emotion and his comedic timing and he remains one of the best performers of intimate scenes going around at present. The way the man delivers dirty talk is sublime.

Arielle DeLisle is a new-to-me narrator but I loved her performance as well. Her husky Jake voice was a real winner but what impressed me the most was her distinctive voices for each of the five owners of Seduction. This is so rare in my experience and it was a welcome discovery.

There were a couple times when one or other of the narrators’ delivery of a certain line was not entirely what I thought was meant by the dialogue but the performances were otherwise exceptional.

I thoroughly enjoyed Listen to Me. The teasing banter between Addie and Jake, as well as their sexual chemistry made this story a success. For those who enjoy sexy contemporary romance, it’s a must listen audiobook.

Kaetrin

Narration: A-

Book Content: B+

Steam Factor: Glad I had my earbuds in

Violence Rating: Minimal

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Harper Audio

Listen to Me was provided to AudioGals by Harper Audio for a review.