I will start out by saying I ADORE Talia Hibbert. The Brown Sister trilogy is one of my favorite series, SPECIALLY Act Your Age, Eve Brown. I was excited to get this ALC, but this one was not for me. I really don't like the whole "playboy mmc" aspect of this book. While I do enjoy the "reformed playboy" trope in some books, this one was not it. I don't know if it was the narrator, but I just couldn't connect with the story. I also found this book too spicy for my liking but that is not something I am going to hold against it, since everyone's spice threshold is different. Nonetheless, it might have not been for me but if you like fake dating, forced proximity, LBGTQ+ representation and LOTS of spice, this one can be for you!

Thanks Netgallery and Dreamscape Media for this ARC.

Honestly, I thought this was super cute. There were some "issues" if you will. I was not connecting with the story in the beginning but towards the middle it started to really pick up and i loved it. I think there were also parts that I missed/didn't understand because of the fact that i didnt read the series, but I would love to go back and read the other books, I think that the narrators are did a great job of bring the characters to life. Nicks accent was so cutie! But there were some times where they kind of fell out of it a bit. I think because I went into this with low expectations a cute summer, fast and spicy read was such a welcome surprise.

I want to preface this review with the statement that I am a diehard Talia Hibbert fan and think her writing is consistently stunning. But, this one was not for me. The playboy trope when that seems to be the MMC’s main or only personality trait is extremely annoying to me. I do not want to constantly hear about all of the past partners, especially when those partners are still in their life. This is something I personally cannot handle, to the point where I almost did not finish this book. Had I not been reading this as an audiobook that I was listening to on my drives to work, I would have put it down. Again, I love Talia Hibbert’s writing style and did enjoy the book outside of the playboy elements. It was just personally hard for me to get through. I would still recommend to others as I do think people would love this book!

Bisexual MMC pierced and tatted tattoo artist FMC a pro soccer player is looking for a fake girlfriend to keep away all of the hoe bags what the female main character doesn’t know is he doesn’t need a fake girlfriend. He wants to get closer to her so he hires her to be his girlfriend. It is so cute. He falls first they both have trouble past with relationships and they’re working through their traumas to try and be together. I loved it. It’s a great pallet cleanser. Do I think that this was as good as the first two I don’t think so, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

<b>Absolutely filthy.</b> <i>I loved it.</i>

☀️Reverse grumpy/sunshine
👩‍❤️‍👨Fake dating
🤌🏻Forced proximity

So the spice was 10/10, the actual story was more like a 5/10.
Let me start by saying, my biggest beef with contemporary romance is and always will be the 3rd act breakup. I get that it's a necessary evil, but the "conflict" in this book felt like a bit of a stretch. Also, I feel like we really just glazed over the whole <i>my ex-boyfriend is a psycho/stalker/killer</i> thing.

Audiobook specific note:
The female narrator just didn't suit the character at all but I don't think it really took anything away from the story.



<i>Shout-out to my homies at Netgally for the audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media & Talia Hibbert for the chance to listen to this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is the third book in the Midnight Heat series. I have read the previous installments and can completely conclude that these can easily be read as standalones. As per usual for Talia Hibbert, the banter is top notch between this golden retriever and black cat. There is tension and past trauma and temptation after temptain. The narration was done really well.

I’ve yet to be disappointed by a Talia Hibbert book. She’s so great at crafting romances that have excellent chemistry between unique characters. Fake dating is always one of my favorite romance tropes, and I think it worked here to create an interesting story and conflict between the characters. Nik is a former professional footballer and is instantly smitten when he meets Aria. In order to get more time around her he decides to offer her a job as his fake girlfriend during a vacation with his friends. He tells her he wants someone around to keep overeager fans from hitting on him.

This was just a super fun read. I loved getting to see Nik and Aria get to know more about one another. Especially Aria’s background, she’s had an interesting relationship with romances in the past in contrast with Nik who has never been one for relationships. Outside of their general chemistry in learning more about each other, Aria and Nik have excellent sexual chemistry. The steamy scenes were varied and well-written, they didn’t feel like carbon copies where it ultimately starts to feel a bit boring. I also loved how there was queer rep within the book, Nik is bisexual and is very open with Aria about who he has hooked up with in the past. I enjoy it when books that might simply look hetero on the surface have queerness within the main couple.

I’m glad I finally picked this up due to the new audiobook that’s coming out. It has inspired me to explore even more of Talia Hibbert’s backlist!

such a good audiobook. i was genuinely in love with both narrators and loved the mmcs. I loved the fake dating trope and how the mmc was obsessed with the fmc hehehe. Smutt was smutty. Another Talia Hibbert slay in my books

I did not realise this was the third book in a series and I recommend not reading it as a standalone. It just kind of felt like I was joining in a conversation that I wasn’t apart of.

It was REALLY spicy and cute! But I didn’t really connect with the characters and I think it was because of what I previously said.

The narrators were great and I loved what they brought to the book!

I listened to this audiobook which was an ALC and if you're looking for a quick spicy read I would recommend it. I thought the narrators did a good job of bringing the characters and plot to life. The mmc is a rich footballer and instantly is attracted to the mmc when they meet, he needs her help and they agree to a fake date. The fmc does not have a good track record with relationships and has sworn them off so they agree to a no-strings-attached situationship while fake dating. I liked the fmc and watching her learn to be in a relationship with someone who actually cared for her. The mmc was boy obsessed and I also loved that. There is a lot of spice in this and overall it was decent despite some clinginess. Thank you to the publisher for this alc.

Read for:
- Fast read
- Golden retriever mmc/black cat fmc
- Grumpy mmc/ sunshine fmc
- He falls first
- Plus size fmc
- Queer rep

*I received an ALC for review.*

Talia Hibbert does it again. This might be the spiciest of her books I've read, but to be fair, it's been a couple years since I've read the Brown Sisters series. Anyway.

The prologue calls this a "bonkers" romance and BOY IS IT but it is SO FREAKING GOOD.

Aria is a tattoo artist who, after a nearly deadly disaster, has given up on dating. Nik is a recently retired footballer, with a bit of a reputation. (He sleeps with pretty much anyone who asks.) He asks her to accompany him to a week-long party to deflect anyone who wants to sleep with him. Eventually they realize that the lust is something more.

I really loved how Aria and Nik didn't draw out their conflict, and there wasn't a lot of angst. This would be a fun beach read, especially if you're near a <i> cold </i> ocean in case you get overheated reading the spicy scenes! Also, the smutty vignette at the end is something we need more of in romance, so Talia, if you're reading this, MOAR PLEASE!

Also, Nik has the DIRTIEST mouth. Like. Wow. Talia, I don't know how you come up with these characters but KEEP THEM COMING (hehe).

HUGE Thank you to Talia Hibbert, Netgalley, and Dreamscape Media for the ALC!!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ALC. Hibbert's characters are always unique and interesting, as is the case here, but for the fake dating trope, The Princess Trap is a more enjoyable plot. The narration was great, but there were at least 3 times were the edits overlapped.

I listened to this is one afternoon and it was perfect! This is for fans of the "he falls first" trope and I was living for how much he was simping for her. It's very much golden retriever and black cat and it was done so well. Their banter was my favourite thing! She threatens to stab him and he thinks that is the cutest thing ever. This also confirms that I love vacation romances!

Loved the audiobook narrators and they really brought these characters to life!

I received an ALC (Advanced Listener Copy) of this audiobook from NetGalley & Dreamscape Media.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 🎧

I devoured this book.

I loved Aria and her spirit. She is bold and self-assured, but she has sworn off relationships, and for good reason. But when footballer Nikolas comes into her orbit, well, all bets are off.

He needs help, and she is just the woman for the job. It was supposed to be fun and easy. But chemistry doesn't care about fun and easy.
I loved how smitten Nikolas became almost right away. I would dare say he fell first, and I loved that!
They have so much fun together that you can practically see the moment when Aria starts to fall. It's as if she finally permits herself to like this guy. Only for it to backfire.

Oh, the heartbreak! I was 100% on her side of this, but I also loved the flip side and how they worked things out. It's a hit for me!

I really enjoyed both narrators. Rooke and Harvey gave voice to these two characters, and they fit them so well.

4.5 stars

This was a really fun fake dating romance. I loved the female MC and how she felt like a real person (someone I would want to be friends with!). I'm a hard sell on instalove, but found myself really pulled into the story. I just didn't like some of the friends on the vacation. My favorite part was when she gave him a tattoo. This book makes me want to read more by this author! If you want a funny summer romance, I would give this one a try.

Thanks so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced audio copy to form my honest opinion.

This review is for the audiobook of this book. First I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this audiobook. I love Talia Hibbert, her writing style is so fun. The narrators did an amazing job with the accents, languages and the emotions.

Favorite Scene In 1-3 Words: Tattoo

Thank you Netgalley and dreamscape media for the alc. My opinions are left voluntarily. Talia Hibbert is one of my favorite authors and absolutely was ecstatic to be able to listen to an audiobook. Lived the entire thing my only tiny complaint is the narration.

4.5/5☆

This was the perfect short, sweet, and sexy story that I needed.

I am such a huge fan of Talia's writing style. Her quick wit and dry sense of humor captivates and makes for such an enjoyable reading experience. I loved how despite the novella style of this book, she was quickly able to establish these two characters and the main plot of the novel.

I loved both Ari and Nik. I thought that they were perfect foils for each other, and I loved their distinct differences on the page. Nik's mouth had me SWEATING and I loved how strong Ari was after the trauma that she's been through. The story was a little bit insta-lovey; however, I'm glad that Ari's character was on the cautious side, which made for realistic storytelling.

These audio narrators were fantastic! Their tone were so captivating and I was having so much fun while listening to this audiobook. I could easily visualize this story and these characters from the acting and delivery that they provided through their vocal stylings.

Overall, a story that is perfectly short and sexy! I had so much fun and I highly recommend listening to this audiobook!

Thank you Talia Hibbert, Dreamscape Media, and Netgalley for this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I can't believe I haven't heard of this book before!

I love the representation that Talia brings to their books. I have a lot of conflicting feelings on this one; I loved the concept, I loved the characters, I loved the content, but I didn't love the execution of the chemistry and I didn't love the narration.

Overall pretty solid read

3.5 stars!!!

wooooweeee talk about SPICY!!! ok i have not read the other books in this series, but i received the arc on netgalley (thank you so much, truly) and i was so excited!!! first off i loved the narration - i thought it was done well. the emotion, the spice, the angst... they outdid themselves. the storyline was okay, i wasn't really attached to the characters but it was such an easy listen, and laugh out loud funny sometimes that i don't even mind that i wasn't really obsessed.

such a fun listen/read and definitely recommend the audio. thanks again netgalley!! 💐