This one is what Marni does best!

A spicy weekend, two strangers stranded. Turns out they are "enemies" and now coworkers.

The spice! The banter! And you know a HEA is gonna happen.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Story: 4 ⭐️
Steam: 5 🔥
Audio: 5 🎧

I liked this one much better than book one. I felt like the connection between the main characters was fun and believable. Their responses to issues were believable and understandable. I loved seeing them come together!

✨✨🎧ALC Audiobook Review🎧✨✨


Audiobook performance: 🎤🎤🎤🎤
Overall story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5

✅ Dual narration
✅ Steamy
✅ Billionaire
✅ Forced proximity
✅ One bed
✅ Enemies to lovers
✅ Workplace
🙊 Plot point not in the summary 🙊

🎧❤️ Audiobook review ❤️🎧

J.F. Harding and CJ Bloom delivered on their performance in narrating this story. Their impeccable pacing seamlessly propelled the narrative forward, effectively capturing and conveying the emotional depth of the tale.

CJ Bloom in particular deserves high praise for her remarkable evocal versatility, effortlessly differentiating between characters, including an impressive portrayal of male voices.

J.F. Harding's deep, resonant voice perfectly suited the character's tall, hunky and handsome persona, adding an extra layer of allure to the narration. I would have liked to see a little more clear differentiation between characters, especially male/female from While there were occasional instances where clearer differentiation between characters from J.F. Would have been beneficial, I did not feel it distracted from the story.

Overall, their storytelling prowess shined through, making for a captivating listening experience. Would recommend!

📚Story overview📚
Rowan and Cooper's serendipitous encounter unfolds amidst a snowstorm at a hotel bar, sparking an unforgettable connection. What starts as a passionate one-night stand extends into an unexpected reunion, thrusting them into a journey of navigating newfound feelings and unexpected surprises, while facing the challenge of working together.

Story review:
Marni Mann was a new author to me, and let me tell you, she's won me over! I'll definitely be reading the rest of the series and checking out her other work. What really got me was how she flipped the script with this story. It dives straight into the steamy stuff, wasting zero time cranking up the heat, then smoothly transitions into crafting a heartfelt storyline and kicked me in the feels.

And let's talk surprises – there were a couple of curveballs that totally caught me off guard. The challenges and twists kept me glued to the pages, eager to see what would happen next. And Cooper and Rowan? Could they be any sweeter? Cooper's tenderness towards Rowan had me swooning.

Special thanks to Dreamscape Media for providing this copy free of charge. These are my own thoughts and honest opinions submitted voluntarily.

This was 4 stars for me!

Silly me didn't realize it was book 2 but I read it anyway! The world you obviously should know the characters and their hardships, but I was able to keep up with the story by diving into book 2 without the knowledge of book 1. I read a summary of book 1 and was able to enjoy book 2!

I really enjoyed the banter and the storyline of this series. It's a billionaire romance and I loved the enemies to lovers aspect of it even more. The angst had me on the edge of my seat and I fell head over heels for Rowan and Cooper.

Highly recommend and I'm definitely going to do a book 1 read and then a reread of this one.

The audiobook is phenom!

She’s done again with another Spade. If you ever have the chance to listen to these books as audio, DO it because the spice factor goes up 1000000% and you’ll find yourself all hot and bothered in such a delicious way.

Audiobook review

Narrated by CJ Bloom & JF Harding
Overall: 4/5 ⭐️
Performance: 5/5 ⭐️
Story: 4/5 ⭐️

This was my first Marni Mann book and I was sooo here for it! This book was soo good and I just loved both characters!

It was such a nice change to see the woman taking charge and being relentless. I also did get a bit choked up at one point. 🥺

Definitely want to go back and read the first in this series and also continue on with the rest! I loved the writing!

This audiobook was done in dual narration and the narrators were top notch! Already know my girl CJ Bloom will knock it out of the park. JF Harding had the perfect authoritative voice for the characters too!

2.5 stars rounded up

This book was off to a great start, but then it fell flat around 70%. Cooper was completely obsessed with her but then completely flipped his attitude and acted like an ass. Then he found something out about Rowan and flipped again to being in love with her. There were also a couple times where the timeline jumped pretty far ahead without any real explanation. Overall, it was fine but the ending was rushed and I didn’t like how it ended. The narrators were great though!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review.

When strangers Rowan and Cooper turn what was going to be a one night stand into a long weekend snowed in at a hotel, they never expect to end up sleeping with and having such explosive chemistry the enemy.

💥Billionaire Romance
💥Family Rivals
💥No Third Act Break Up
💥Forced Proximity
💥Low Stakes and High Heat

Although this was the second in a character series, and I haven’t read the first, it truly read like a stand alone. I didn’t feel like I was missing out on any of the story by not reading the book before it.

I appreciated that this was a low stakes book. The characters had just the right amount of drama to slow down their eventual happy ending, but without the miscommunication of it all. Rowan and Cooper actually worked through feelings and problems like adults who have adult conversations. Their reactions to challenges and the timeline to resolution felt very realistic.

I loved how confident and head strong Rowan was. She was not afraid to speak her mind, express her feelings and know that she kicked butt at her job and would go after what she wanted.

I listened to the audiobook on a 2.0 and the narration worked great at that speed. CJ Bloom is always perfect for a fiery lead. J.F. Harding is a newer narrator to me, but so far I have loved every book I have listened to with him as the MMC. These two were a great pairing.

🌶3/5
⭐️4.5/5

I am so happy to be back in the world of 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒 𝙼𝚊𝚗𝚗. I have missed it and it's just what I needed! We are back with the Spade family and we get Cooper's story with this one.

Cooper Spade. Oh so swoony! I couldn't get enough of his sexy character! When he meets Rowan Cole at a hotel and ends up stranded...the sparks begin to fly, the forced proximity comes out all bets are off when it comes to not losing hearts!

Rowan Cole. I loved her character! She's beautifully chiseled. I loved how she was a powerhouse of a woman! That's always a plus for me. When she meets Cooper.....well, I never loved a FMC more!

The narrators for this book are among my long list of favorites. 𝐽.𝐹. 𝐻𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 has a magnificent voice that he puts his emotions into when he brought Cooper to life! He blended beautifully with the alluring voice that was 𝐶.𝐽.𝐵𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑚, who put her whole self into the beautiful Rowan. It was like listening to friends tell their stories!

Once again, 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒 𝙼𝚊𝚗𝚗 has captured my heart with these characters. Add into the mix the beautiful, spicy, chemistry that Rowan & Cooper have, and it is one wild rollercoaster ride! You'll get some angst, lots of banter and so many swoony, drool worthy moments with this one!

I knew I would love Cooper’s book.
Cooper and Rowan meet at a hotel bar when both of them are on business trips in Banff.
The chemistry is immediate, and what was suppose to be one night, turns into a weekend thanks to the weather.
Rowan knows it can’t go any further, even if they live in the same city because she is a Cole and he is a Spade.
But fate has other plans and they run into eachother again, and let’s just say they still have a lot of chemistry.
The Spade and Cole’s are enemies, but a merger will bring them together like it or not, and Cooper finds out who Rowan really is, a Cole.
Cooper and Rowan can’t stay away from one another, and when they finally decide to give their relationship a chance, they are hit with another surprise.

I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook narrated by C.J. Bloom and J. F. Harding.

C.J was perfect for the strong personality of Rowan. J. F. did a phenomenal job with the broody but lovable Cooper.

Thank you Marni Mann and Valentine PR for this ALC.

I listened to the audiobook of this story and the narrators did a fantastic job bringing this story to live, from the scorching scenes to the emotional ones, this audiobook was PERFECTION!

This is the second book in the "Spade Hotel Series" and follows the Spade brothers.

Cooper Spade is a notorious bachelor until one unexpected snow storm leaves him stranded in a hotel on Lake Louise were he mets the most beautiful and interesting woman, Rowan. They shared some amazing days and scorching nights together until its time to part ways.

Now everything changes when they meet again but now they are forced to work together but not in the best way because their families are rivals in the hotel industry.

From the moment Copper and Rowan met there is special chemistry and you see this thought out the whole story. They are some emotional moments and I love how this couple come together to face them.

☞Billionaire romance
☞close proximity/one bed
☞rivals
☞surprise pregnancy
☞super hot scenes

Cooper and Rowen are essentially the Capulets and the Montagues of the luxury hotel world. When they both end up stranded in Banff due to a storm. They spend an entire weekend wrapped up in each other. The only problem is that only Rowen knows about the rival family status. When they return to the real-world Cooper wants more time with Rowen but when she is hesitant, he only becomes more intrigued by her. That is until the truth comes out in the worst way possible. Now Cooper has to decide if he's willing to go against everything he's ever been told about her family and his to get what he wants.

I was vibing with this audiobook so hard. I love a good fast burn especially when the author doesn't time jump over the initial hook up. I loved the tension and the angst as they fought against their instincts of aversion to the other's family to be together.

Unfortunately, right at the end of the book a trope was introduced that I personally tend to avoid, and frankly it ruined the rest of the book for me. I like being able to decide if I want to read this trope so when it was thrown in without any disclosure and I wasn’t prepared for it, it put a sour taste in my mouth. I also don't feel like it added anything to the storyline. There was plenty of drama and other things going on that it wasn't necessary.

I am still very much invested in this world and looking forward to enjoying other books in this series hopefully sans this one trope.

My Star Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
My Spice Rating: 4/5 🌶️
Narration: 5/5 🎧

What you’ll find:
- Billionaire Romance
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Alpha Hero
- Forced Proximity
- One Bed
- Accidental Pregnancy
- Lovers to Enemies to Lovers
- Workplace Romance

The Rebel is the second book in the Spade Hotel series. This was my first by Marni Mann, and I was not disappointed.

While Cooper is on a business trip, he meets Rowan at a hotel bar. They are immediately drawn to each other, and things escalate quickly. A snowstorm hits, flights are canceled, and no rooms are available at the hotel. They end up staying together in Rowan's room...for three nights. Once the airport opens back up and they head back to LA, Cooper wants to see Rowan again. Although she had an amazing time with him, Rowan has a secret that could ruin everything. Cooper was not just some random man she met at the bar. Rowan knows precisely who he is.

I enjoyed this story from start to finish. I loved Rowan and Cooper together. Their chemistry was SIZZLING. Marni Mann certainly knows how to write amazing spice! Rowan is a boss! She is strong and confident. Cooper is a swoon-worthy cinnamon roll guy with a tough exterior. The Rebel is a rollercoaster of emotions as Rowan and Cooper go from strangers to lovers to enemies to lovers again. Their relationship has ups and downs, but ultimately, they get their happy ending. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in this series.

AUDIOBOOK:
The narrators did an excellent job and really brought the characters to life. J. F. Harding and C.J. Bloom pulled me into Cooper and Rowan's world. I have not listened to them perform before, but based on their performance with this story, I've added them to my list of favorites. Their narration definitely enhanced my listening experience.

Thank you, Marni Mann, Valentine PR, and Dreamscape Media, for the advanced audio. Opinions expressed are my own.

Oh gosh did I love Cooper and Rowan! We have this steamy, snowed in, forced proximity hookup that leaves them both wanting more, but Rowan has a secret. While she knows who Cooper is, he has no idea who she is and she intentionally keeps it from him. When they run into each other back in LA, Cooper wants more but doesn’t understand why Rowan is hesitant, until he learns her secret. Then the two of them are forced into each other’s orbit with no end in sight. Oh good lord the tension that oozed off of these two! Their pull to each other was undeniable, but it was so fun watching Cooper try to fight it. I loved how it was a bit of a role reversal, with Rowan being the one who had to work hard to earn Cooper’s trust back. Rowan was a feisty, strong FMC that I just loved, she wasn’t afraid to stand on her own two feet or stick up for herself. And good lord was Cooper swoony! I also loved the rest of the Spade and Cole families, and I can’t wait for the rest of these men to meet their match. JF Harding and CJ Bloom were just the perfect narrators for Cooper and Rowan! I loved their performances, they really brought the characters to life and drew out all the emotions the book provoked!

The story's sizzling enemies-to-lovers theme, set against a forced proximity backdrop, hooked me. Cooper and Rowan's chemistry was palpable, making their passionate weekend unforgettable. The dual narration by J.F. Harding and C.J. Bloom brought the characters to life, enhancing the immersive experience with their engaging performances. Their ability to convey the emotional depth and tension between the protagonists added a rich layer to the audiobook. This book is a fast-paced romance, filled with steamy moments and complex relationships, and it was a captivating listen. I highly recommend it.

Audiobook Review

Cooper Spade was sooo dreamy, smex on legs, schteamy. The things he said to Rowan in the throes of “Christmas” bliss was NSFW.
This book really brought a new dimension to the entire Spade family and how Cooper was perceived previously.
CJ Bloom and J. F. Harding were fantastic in their portrayal of Rowan and Cooper. Chef’s kiss

Book no. 2 in the Spade Hotel series.
One I completely enjoyed, especially with the narration (J.F. Harding & C.J. Bloom).

Cooper and Rowan - enemies to lovers - spend some unforgettable time together during a snowstorm at Christmas.
The turn of events afterwards made the story even better.

After an amazing one night stand, Cooper and Rowan don’t expect it to go any further. Until they can’t stop thinking about each other. So they plan to meet up, but their plans get derailed when they find out that their two highly competitive companies are now margining into one.

Tropes:

🖤 Billionaire romance
🖤 Forbidden
🖤 One night stand turned more
🖤 Forced proximity
🖤 Rivals
🖤 Workplace romance
🖤 Off the charts chemistry!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️.5
Angst level: 💔

Now that Rowan and Cooper are in business together, there’s no way that they can be together. But their attraction and chemistry proves harder and harder to stop.

But the problem remains that their families hate each other. How will they ever be able to actually be anything real?

Rowan and Cooper are 100% made for each other! Their chemistry is completely off the charts, which is shown in all of their spicy scenes. Which were absolute fire 🔥!!

I loved seeing both of their brothers and we are definitely in for with them in the future!

I teared up towards the end of the book, but lost it in the epilogue!!

The audio version was good, CJ Bloom and JF Harding were great narrators. They delivered the story well. Rowan and Cooper meet when he is checking out some property. There is a storm that they end up snowed in. She knew who he was but he did not know who he was. They are from rival families and there is some drama that unfolds before there is a HEA.

To no surprise Marni did it again with another steamy story following another Spade boy! And taking place in Banff was another sign from the cosmos that I need to visit there!

We did not have to wait very long before things heated up between Cooper and Rowan after getting stranded due to a snowstorm. Three nights of rolling in the sheets sure had me feeling things as well. The progression of their relationship along with the secrets and warring families was just so fun! One thing I love about Manns books is all the family members that make appearance and their personalities! The family dynamics in this one were such a good time. But I was not prepared for that ending.

I am so happy I was given the opportunity to listen to the book because it is so steamy and my ears appreciated it greatly! The narrators did a fantastic job with not only telling the story but making me feel the feels.