Audiobook

Been in my romcom, HEA, feel-good era lately but got approved for this billionaire romance and got started. This is my first Marni Mann book (audiobook) and second book in the Spade series.

First off this book is hot, hot, HOT. Right from the beginning. The chemistry and banter between Ro and Cooper is through the roof. You can imagine my surprise when I had this playing in my ears at the gym. Haha! Loved the ‘strangers meeting’ theme. The confidence of alpha billionaires can sometimes rub me the wrong way but I like Cooper. He had a balance of alpha and vulnerability.

The Canadian references - as a Canadian girl, yesssss all for it.

Also, is this a spoiler…maybe this is a spoiler: their families’ company are long-time rivals and I was so tuned into this trope. The billionaires I’ve read in this genre, have always been the MMC. In this book, Marni Mann makes the FMC a billionaire as well. She is extremely intelligent and good at her job, matching Cooper’s energy. This is the first book I’ve read with billionaire + billionaire. While I love to see a strong girlboss being represented, it was irritating to hear the surprise in MMC’s POV. She can hold her own and it shouldn’t be a surprise. I love the enemies-to-lovers-but-I-want-you tension.

One thing that particularly stuck in my head, was the focus on social constructs of gender and colour. The baby’s gender and the corresponding “pink” or “blue” colors was mentioned on two occasions. Might be worthwhile to explore this concept.

I was thankful there was no third act break up. (Yay!) And the epilogue was the birth and wasn’t 5 years later with 3 more kids later!

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC! This book was really good. I loved the meet cute, the family dynamics, the resolutions. I also liked that the drama between Cooper and Rowan wasn’t super drawn out. It felt like the right amount given all the circumstances around their situation. I’m definitely interested in reading more about this family! The narrators were great, always enjoy those two!

There were a lot of things that I truly enjoyed about this book.
I loved that once the initial miscommunication was over, the real drama and healing was with the family. I feel like this felt so realistic because there wasn't a ton of back and forth with the MCs. I love Rowan and Cooper. I thought they truly complimented each other and even though they had a few wrenches thrown at them, they always handled it as a team.
AND those spicy scenes... Made me truly glad that I enjoy this genre of fiction. There was a true storyline and the spice was perfection within those scenes. (I just will always have a hard time with dirty talk that included the c word... I always get a little rattled and I am pretty sure that was in here a few times.

(audiobook) It’s possible I was expecting too much, so of course I was kind of a tiny bit disappointed. But it was still a good book.

My main problem was with the fact that both Rowan and Cooper claim they don’t know what love is. Until they find each other, of course. I suppose that makes for a powerful revelation when they finally admit their feelings. For me, it’s unbelievable at best. And if it’s denial, I don’t find it sexy or romantic. Mostly it’s proof of emotionally stunted characters, which Rowan and Cooper were anything but. It could also be a way for them to keep their relationship on the casual side, but it contradicts the fact that they risk a lot by being together and yet they can’t keep their hands off each other. Either you’re committed, or you’re not.

Also, a tiny ridiculous thing I didn’t like: the title. It’s great as it is, nothing wrong. Except that I never got how Cooper was a rebel. Unless it’s explained in the previous book in the series. That’s probably it.

Anyway, I loved the characters. I loved how invested they were in their businesses and in their families. How, despite a family feud, they find a way to work together–and almost against their families–for the best possible outcome. Not an easy journey, plenty of obstacles, and intense scenes and hostility, but they get there. There’s also some interesting struggles, like when Rowan is wondering whether she should go back to her previous business and leave the family company, and Cooper convinces her.

And they’re fire together. Sure, there’s a lot of attraction right from the start, and that could lead nowhere. But in the first chapters, they ignite the pages, it’s logical they couldn’t let it go.

The book isn’t exactly structured in three acts. It’s more a crescendo with a few short calmer moments before new life changing events. A bit soap-opera-ish maybe. It sure keeps the reader interested.

The narrators were well cast. Rowan’s assertiveness was reflected in the female narrator’s voice, while the male narrator did a good job with Cooper’s intensity. This audiobook was a great way to enjoy Cooper and Rowan’s love story.

Quickie

- Series: Spade Hotel #2 (can be read as a standalone)
- Hashtags: #billionaire romance #enemies to lovers #secret identity #forced proximity #surprise pregnancy
- Triggers: mention of illness
- Main couple: Rowan Cole & Cooper Spade
- Hotness: 4/5
- Romance: 3/5
- + interesting characters
- – don’t tell me you don’t know what love is…

Another phenomenal book by Marni Mann! This fast paced, steamy, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, billionaire, workplace romance was so good!

I love how there is something familiar, yet unique about all of Marni's characters. each character is written with such depth and it makes it hard not to love them. Roheen and Cooper were so perfect! I absolutely loved everything about them! They had amazing chemistry, banter, and they were just so cute.

I really enjoyed the narration by CJ Bloom and J.F. Harding. these narrators voices sounded really well together and they made it very difficult for me to pause the audiobook.

I really enjoyed this book and pretty much all books by Marni Mann. They are the perfect amount of romance, smut, and plot and they keep me coming back for more. I also like how they are all interconnected and exist in the same universe. I think that the plots between the books are similar but I still enjoy reading them anyway.

This one was a hotel company romance where two people from competing hotel companies fell in love. I loved the forbidden romance aspect. The chemistry between the two characters was amazing and I every scene felt so intimate. The ending was sad and also perfect. They deserved their perfect ending.

I adore anything that Marni Mann writes, but until recently, I hadn't listened to any of her audiobooks. That changes today! The listening experience was incredible and I loved hearing her story being brought to life. I will most definitely be listening to more in the future!

this book had me all over the place but ultimatly upset me and caused a huge reading slump for me which is crazy because the first 1/4 is amazing. Its about two rich architechs and I am in love with their accidental snowed in situation.. but then i was bored.
he was too much of an arse and she was too whiny and weak and then all of a sudden they are perfect again? it wasnt realistic nor believeable.

I still want to be a spade tho!

💫The Rebel by Marni Mann 💫

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🌶🌶🌶
Format: 🎧

Thank you @netgalley for the ALC to review. If I were rating this on the first 2/3 of the book, this would have been a 4.5 star read. There will be spoiler below including what I did not love so scroll now if you want to stop and avoid those. I adored Rowan from the beginning. She is a total badass who knows what she wants and is confident in her abilities as a business woman. I also loved that Cooper wasn’t totally anti-relationship and was actually a big softie from the beginning. He really let Rowan set the pace of their relationship and I enjoyed that a lot. The conflict between families kept me intrigued and I did really like all the characters. I also really loved the narrators and thought they did an incredible job of bringing the character to life. The last 1/3 lost me. I kind of predicted the *SPOILER* pregnancy trope was coming but thought we had escaped it until BOOM. It was there. I did not love that especially coupled with her dad’s story line. I also wanted more groveling from Rhett. The end just felt disjointed from the beginning and a bit rushed. I still liked the book but the last chunk knocked it some from 4.5 to 3.5 stars for me.

Read if you like:
- Billionaire Romance
- Forced Proximity
- Rivals to Lovers
- Workplace Romance
- Fast Burn
- SPICE 🌶

⭐️ 3.5/5
🌶️ 2/5

🖤 Billionaire
🖤 Forbidden
🖤 Rivals to Lovers
🖤 Feuding Families
🖤 Forced Proximity

The Rebel is book 2 of Marni Mann’s, Spade Hotel series, and follows Cooper Spade & Rowan Cole. The two meet while snowed in at a Banff hotel over the holidays, and spend a hot & steamy few days together. Once home though, the drama becomes clear when they come face to face during a very turbulent merger of their feuding family companies.

CJ Bloom & JF Harding performed this so well. Their chemistry was great, the banter was funny, and the spice was spicy!

I enjoyed how fierce and independent Rowan’s character was, and once he accepted it, Cooper’s love for her was deep & true. While rivals to lovers isn’t usually my favourite trope, the plot had some great twists and turns, and it kept me interested and entertained throughout.

Thank you to Marni Mann & NetGalley for the chance to listen to & review this ALC.

This was my first book from the author, even tho I've been ordering her in for customers for a while. Definately has the steamy aspect to it so regular romance buyers should know this is a bit spicier than some. Not dark romance, just spicy. Part of a series, yet can be read as a stand alone. As someone who has trouble listening to some audio, I found this capturing and keeping my attention. I did flip back and forth when I couldn't just listen so had the paper version on hand as well. Yes, I'm that person. I wanted to finish it and didn't have time for just the audio so I bought it lol! Writing and storyline reminds me of Melody Anne's writing in some way, which is a good thing. Will be ordering more of her work in for customers.

Wow this was so hot and sweet! I hadn’t read the first of this series but honestly I don’t feel that I needed to. This was pretty great because it could be read as a stand alone.

The characters were amazing and I absolutely loved their chemistry. I loved the whole supposed to be enemies to lovers scenario.

The spice was incredible and the backstory and heart behind everything gave a great spicy story more depth.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio ARC.

J. F. Harding and C.J. Bloom were wonderful storytellers. Amazing job!

The story was enjoyable and sexy. I give it three stars for the very simple fact that I will not be re-reading/ listening. I will recommend if friends ask for a fun, sexy, and easy read!

This series just gets better and better! I don’t want to reveal too much as this is one of those books that is just too good letting it all unfold as you read!! It all starts out as a snowed in one night stand that turns into 3 nights and then they part ways. He gave her but she didn’t give hers and now he’s left wanting more of her without knowing who she is. It just gets better from there and might be one of my favorites from Marni Mann yet!!!

One Night Stand
Billionaire Romance
Forced Proximity
Alpha Hero

LOVED this book on audio!!!! It was swoony, hot, sexy and just such a well narrated audiobook! JF Harding and CJ Bloom gave an incredible performance and took this book up a notch. CJ Bloom has an outstanding male voice that just makes the male dialogue so seamless throughout the whole book. She is just able to add the deep gruffness to Rowan and it feels as if the male narrator is used throughout, that is how well done her male voice is! Then there is JF Harding who absolutely nailed Rowan in this book! His deeper, sultry tone could not have been more perfect for this rich billionaire. It made his character even more swoony for me! Not only that but he brings out the feelings of characters so incredibly well with his voice and had me feeling everything Rowan did! Overall, I cannot recommend this one on audio enough!!

The Rebel is super spicy page turner that I couldn't stop listening to!

It's two strangers and a one night stand turned enemies to lovers turned forced to work together and it's so good! I love the rivarly and they way they all came together. Looking forward to what's to come in the Spade Hotel lineup!

The narration by CJ Bloom & JH Harding was superb!

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶.5
Tears: 😭

Cute story, and GREAT audio! Would definitely recommend the audio if you listen to books. Great narrators. The spice was great as well and would read the rest of this series for sure!

OMG! Marni Mann does it again! Cooper Slade, you stud you :-). I'd read the ebook, but the audiobook made this story even hotter. Both narrators did a great job of portraying the characters' angst, love and excitement. They made them individuals, yet you could feel the chemistry between the characters and that is due to the narrators' deliveries. This was the first time I have listened to an audio of Marni Mann's work, as I usually read the ebooks, but it won't be the last. Holy hotness! 🥵

I received an audiobook of this one via Netgalley for an unbiased review.

The Rebel is the second book of the Spade Hotel Series of interconnected standalones. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and definitely won’t be the last! I loved everything about this book: the writing style, the characters, the setting, the spice…it is all fantastic! Cooper and Rowan are both on business trips and get snowed in. There is only one room and one bed…and boy does the spice start with a bang! After three days spent together they both go home and secrets are revealed. There was a twist I wasn’t expecting but wasn’t disappointed in the least! I loved these two characters and C.J. Bloom and J.F. Harding both did an excellent job of portraying Rowan and Cooper and really brought them to life for me.

If there is one way to hook me on a book, it's when the book starts with some of the steamiest tension I've ever encountered! This is book 2 in the Spade Hotel series but can be read as a standalone.

What to expect:
- Steamy tension
- Workplace rivals
- Hotel room escapades
- Secret identities

Plot:
Cooper (MMC) is a on a business trip when his flight gets cancelled due to the snow. Rowan (FMC) is also snowed in at the same hotel. Their chemistry is instant. After spending some time together at the bar while waiting to see if they will be stuck there, they flirt and banter back and forth. Fortunately for Cooper, even though all the rooms are booked at the hotel, he is hitting it off with Rowan. Weeks after their hotel escapades, Cooper still can't forget about Rowan. Those three nights were the best they had. But then they find out, who they are really are to each other when they get back to the real world and it all comes crashing down on them.


I really enjoy Marni Mann's writing. She writes mature characters (20s and 30s) who communicate and develop throughout their relationship in the book. I'm a huge fan!

I received this book as an ALC and absolutely devoured it. JF Harding's voice is like velvet. And CJ Bloom is one of my all time favorite female narrators. Their chemistry was OFF THE CHARTS!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

The Rebel is a continuation of the spare hotel series, each one starts with a one night stand and finishes with a HEA. This one is had a good story line and conclusion of a long rivalry with the Cole family.