Audiobook review: Best Laid Plans
Author: Lauren Blakely
Narrators: Erin Mallon & Joe Arden (Duet style)
Audio Speed: 1.0x
Series: Lucky in Love #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Audible Romance Package (purchased membership)
Best Laid Plans is the first book in the Lucky in Love series by Lauren Blakely. I’m a big fan of Blakely’s romances, they are funny and sexy and often feature friends-to-lovers. Arden meets Gabe when her boyfriend dumps her in the middle of a picnic she planned for him in the park. Arden is sick of being a “nice” girl and wants to feel what it would be like to be a “naughty” girl.
After a year of friendship, they are crazy about each other, but neither one of them wants to ruin their friendship for a relationship that might not work. The reason Arden thinks it won’t work is because her best buddy Gabe, is a lady’s man. Not the jerky kind, but it’s common knowledge the hotty fireman isn’t into long term relationships. Until he is.
Gabe has had a crush on Arden since they first met, well before the breakup scene in the park, but he knew she was very taken. He doesn’t make a move on her after the park because he’s a great guy and knew that Arden was heartbroken over the ex-jerk. Then Arden enlists Gabe into helping her find her naughty side.
Arden wants to test the waters with a list of her fantasy, like a smoking hot kiss in an elevator you know the kind, where she gets pushed up against the wall with her hand trapped over her head. She also wants to experience spanking and other “naughty” times all her other “vanilla” exes did with her.
Arden and Gabe make a pack to try the things on her list without having sex, so as not to ruin their friendship. They take a week to explore Arden’s fantasies and that week is a hot one, bringing out her inner naughty girl. It also brings to the front that Gabe and Arden are in love with each other and probably have been for a while.
Best Laid Plans is a great romance about a hot fireman and a “nice” bookstore owner moving from best friends to HEA. I highly recommend it on audiobook. I’ve listened to both Erin Mallon and Joe Arden. They always do an excellent job with their narration work.
This is the first time I’ve listened to an audiobook delivered in the duet style. Listening to Erin deliver all of Arden’s POVs and thoughts and Joe reading all of Gabe’s POVs along with his thoughts was pure genius. I felt like I was listening to a play instead of a book. It was a whole new listening experience. I look forward to listening to more duet style narration. I hope the next book, The Feel Good Factor is delivered in the same style.
My Ratings:
Story: A-
Narration:
Erin Mallon: A
Joe Arden: A
Jennifer
About the Book:
That time I had the brilliant idea to ask my good friend for lessons in sex-ploration…
Awkward? Maybe. But how else is a good girl going to find out if she likes being naughty? I might be sweet as cherry pie, but I’m also bold and damn curious. And Gabe is charming, trustworthy, aces at seduction (or so I hear) and—bonus!— willing to give me lessons. But to guarantee it won’t ruin our friendship, I have some specific requirements for his instruction. I want these classes to be hypothetical more than hands-on. So what if he’s hella sexy? I can handle that, no problem.
I have it bad for Arden. She’s bright, brilliant, insanely fun, and I want to take her home and spend all night together—and then spend the day with her, too. When she asks for my help, I see my chance to win her sweet heart by showing her how much fun we can have getting spicy. Trouble is, she has a different idea of what “sex-ploration” should mean. Now I’m going to have to get really clever to win her over.
Good thing I know exactly how to upend her best laid plans.