Audible audiobook, KU e-book
Author: Lucy Score
Narrators: Lila Winters and Sebastian York
The last thing bearded, tattooed, bearded grumpy barber Knox Morgan needs in his life is Naomi Witt, a runaway bride who waltzes into his town to rescue her conniving evil twin. That’s been her lot in life: to clean up Tina’s messes and apparently the last one is a doozy. What else is new?
Stranded in Knockemout while trying to sort everything out in her life isn’t exactly a walk in the park. Her sister conned her, stole her car, ransacked her hotel room, and left her with no car, no money, no phone, and with an eleven-year old niece she didn’t know existed.
Knox doesn’t do either complications or high-maintenance, but destiny seems to be forcing him to be Naomi’s (and her niece Waylay’s by proxi) knight in less than shining armor. When the town no longer mistakes her for Tina, Naomi starts settling in and soon the grumpy Viking is becoming irresistible to her. Sparks fly… until danger comes to town.
This is a grumpy/sunshine story. Naomi is a people pleaser and Knox is NOT a people person. The town with its residents is itself a character, with Knox’s brother (the Chief of Police), his grandmother, the people who work for Knox at his numerous businesses. The book has a “Gilmore Girls” meets “Hart of Dixie” kinda vibe with the banter and the small town shenanigans. A fun listen!
Narration: it really helps that it’s narrated by the super talented Sebastian York, whose deep and gravely voice is PERFECT for the grump, and Lila Winters (who I am pretty sure I’ve met under a different name) is also great, because this is one brick of a book and the audiobook runs for 16 hours!
(Note: the bonus epilogue is only included in the audiobook).
Rep and Possible triggers: race diversity; several queer characters, including the MC’s best friends. Mentions of physical and emotional abuse by a partner; mentions of drug addiction; grief; child abandonment; infertility issues.
