Audiobook review: Stud in the Stacks
Author: Pippa Grant
Narrators: Karen White & Joe Arden
Audio Speed: 1.5x
Series: Girl Band Books #2; Standalone
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Tantor Audio
Right from the start, I knew I was going to love Stud in the Stacks. The whirl-wind romance begins as we meet Knox, a one-time erotic dancer (had to pay for college somehow), now librarian, who specializes in romance and has his own romance blog. He’s participating in a bachelor auction to raise money for literacy. Knox is sharp and witty, confident and caring. I fell for him immediately. He is a god of a romance reader and a librarian. He’s sexy, sweet, and most of all kind, helping all those around him. Plus he lives with his Nana.
Parker, on the other hand, is a hot mess. While equally funny, she is a bit manic. Even though she’s a successful exec and loves her job, she’s spent too many years listening to those who would bring her down – something that started in high school. She’s got low esteem and feels like a huge loser, yet she’s can be confident when in her element. She needs Knox to be her doting fiancé at her high school reunion, and the two strike up a friendship, which is bolstered after they realize their shared past. The frantic mess that is Parker is hilarious. I’m pretty sure almost everyone will see a bit of herself in Parker. She gets a win for the geeks, but more importantly, she gets the win because she’s a great person who is worthy of being loved by a great man.
Stud in the Stacks takes off at a fast pace and rarely slows down, never finding a dull moment. I found myself laughing out loud at the funny situations and witty dialogue. I adored the attitudes and humor of both Knox and Parker. The two are “perfect” for each other because she never wants to get married and he doesn’t want a relationship. On paper they may seem like opposites, but together they form a whole. She is a challenge to him, and he wants to “fix her” by helping her see the beautiful, sexy, strong woman he knows she is. With the belief that what is happening between them is only temporary, the two embrace their desires and indulge in a lovely, fun-filled courtship. I love that both realize they want to change in small ways to be a better person for the other. And through Knox, Parker realizes she’s not the scared, awkward teen of her youth.
The narration for this story is nearly perfect. Right from start I love both narrators. Joe Arden captures the cocky, f-u attitude of Knox. Karen White hits the frantic/panicky neuroses of Parker. They nail the main characters. I enjoyed Joe’s supporting characters a bit more than Karen’s, but both do a good job of providing unique, well-suited voices for the side characters. The narration added to the overall ambiance of the tale.
Stud in the Stacks reads like a romance-lover’s dream. It’s super fun, sweet, sexy… and even brought tears to my eyes and pulled strong emotions from my soul. I highly recommend this adorable romance!
My Ratings:
Story: A
Narration: A- (both)
This story gets an honorable mention as one of my favorite books!
Review copy provided by Tantor Audio
Jen
About the Book:
When it comes to women, I know what they want. And all day long, I give it to them. Dark, broody, and sexy? You got it. Need to laugh? I’m your guy. Desperate for something to put you in the mood? You’ve come to the right place, kitten.
Every morning when my library opens, there’s a line around the block, the ladies flocking to me in need of their next book boyfriend. I’m that dude. The one who knows his way around the romance section. And if you think that hasn’t gotten me plenty of action over the years, you’d be wrong.
But I’ve made a few miscalculations, and now my reputation has my job in danger. If I can’t prove to my boss that I’m more than a playboy who recommends romance in the hopes of getting some hanky panky in the stacks, I can kiss my job goodbye.