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Narration by Jason Clarke & Samantha Brentmoor

Rose Hill, Book 3

From the author:

I’d always dreamed of my wedding day. But not like this. Not looking into the eyes of the man who betrayed me.

But when my nephew’s guardianship is contested, I decide I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him in Rose Hill. Even if it means marrying the enemy.

Rhys Dupris.

A man who is secretive, broody, and completely infuriating. A man whose work takes him away for weeks on end and brings him back covered in mysterious bruises—ones he won’t talk about. In fact, we barely talk at all.

Which would be fine, except when he’s not talking, he’s staring. And the way he looks at me is borderline indecent.

The tension between us has always been palpable. But living under the same roof is a dangerous temptation.

I swore I would never forgive him. But that was before I knew the man behind the mask. The one who’s fierce and protective. The one who’s gentle and patient. The one who shows up for us when we need him most.

He’s not at all who I thought he was.

And that makes hating my husband so much harder… and loving him just a little too easy.

https://amzn.to/3SwTpRx

Elsie Silver delivers another standout small-town romance with Wild Side, a deeply emotional story that seamlessly blends grief, healing, found family, and an unforgettable slow-burn love story. Packed with heart, humor, and sizzling chemistry, this is easily my favorite book in the Rose Hill series so far.

Tabitha Garrison is fiercely independent, sharp-tongued, and endlessly devoted to the people she loves. After spending years trying to save her troubled sister, she’s left reeling when that sister dies and leaves behind a young son, Milo. Tabitha assumes she’ll become Milo’s guardian—until she learns that guardianship has been granted to Rhys Dupris, her sister’s former landlord and the last person she trusts.

Rhys, a professional wrestler with a complicated past, is quiet, guarded, and carrying wounds of his own. When circumstances threaten Milo’s future, Tabitha and Rhys agree to a marriage of convenience that allows them to share custody and provide stability for the little boy they both love. What begins as a practical arrangement quickly becomes something far more complicated.

The relationship between Tabitha and Rhys is beautifully developed. She spends much of the book pushing him away while he patiently refuses to leave her side. Their banter is fantastic, their chemistry is undeniable, and the tension simmers for so long that every romantic moment feels earned. Rhys is the kind of hero readers fall hard for—protective, vulnerable, selfless, and completely devoted once he lets someone into his heart. Watching him slowly lower his defenses was one of the highlights of the book.

Tabby is equally compelling. Strong without being invincible, she’s carrying immense grief while trying to hold everything together for Milo. Silver does an excellent job showing her vulnerability beneath the tough exterior, making her both relatable and easy to root for.

While the romance is wonderful, Wild Side is also a moving story about loss and rebuilding. The found-family elements are exceptional, something Silver consistently excels at. The support system surrounding Tabby, Rhys, and Milo adds warmth and depth to every chapter, and little Milo steals more than a few scenes along the way.

I was initially skeptical about the professional wrestling aspect, but Silver made it work effortlessly. In the end, it became just another layer of Rhys’s character rather than defining the story.

And yes, I cried. More than once.

The emotional weight of the story, combined with the tenderness of Tabitha and Rhys’s relationship, made this one impossible to put down. Add in a marriage of convenience, a delicious slow burn, found family, and a hero who would do absolutely anything for the people he loves, and Wild Side becomes everything I want in a romance.

The audiobook is outstanding. Narrators Jason Clarke and Samantha Brentmoor bring incredible emotional depth to the story, capturing both the playful moments and the heartbreak with equal skill. Their performances elevate an already wonderful book into a truly immersive listening experience.

6/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

WILD SIDE by Elsie Silver. Narrators: Jason Clarke & Samantha Brentmoor. Self-published. (March 4, 2025.) ASIN: ‎B0DRDNKCQZ. Listening Length: 12 hours and 17 minutes.

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Narration by Teddy Hamilton & Savannah Peachwood

Rose Hill, Book 2

From the author:

A rugged mountain town seemed like the perfect escape from a life in shambles.
But on day one, she ran full tilt into the world’s hottest single dad, and now all her plans are ruined.

As a chart-topping country singer with a recent streak of bad press, it’s hard for Skylar Stone to find any peace. But she finds it in Rose Hill. With a little boy and a little girl who steal her heart just as thoroughly as their dad.

Weston Belmont.

The man is a shameless flirt. He oozes confidence and masculinity in a way that’s downright distracting. And in bed? He’s addictive.

Everything with him is wild and impulsive, and Skylar is desperate to regain some control.

But no one has supported her like West does. And no one has ever made her feel as loved as he does either.

So, while Skylar’s brain says settling down with a small-town horse trainer is impossible…her heart says she’s right where she belongs.

Still, her life as a celebrity haunts her. It has the power to pull her and West apart.

She can see in his eyes that he wants her to stay. And she wants that too.

But she knows better than anyone that you don’t always get what you want.

https://amzn.to/3S8CPY4

Wild Eyes is the second standalone in Elsie Silver’s Rose Hill series, and it is a country-fried, delicious read. If you love a slow-burn, single-dad, forced-proximity romance with elite banter and thick sexual tension, grab your headphones. The audiobook, narrated to absolute perfection by Teddy Hamilton and Savannah Peachwood, is a cozy, comforting read.

Our heroine, Skylar Stone, is a chart-topping country star escaping a toxic, controlling family and a massive anxiety-inducing scandal. Looking for a quiet place to heal and write her own music, she retreats to the small town of Rose Hill. Day one delivers a literal grizzly bear encounter and a textbook meet-cute when local horse trainer and ultimate dad-snack, West Belmont, swoops in to save her life. Soon enough, she’s living in his bunkhouse.

West is a sweet, tattooed gentleman with a wicked dirty mouth and a heart of absolute gold. He is an incredible father to his two precious kids, Emmy and Ollie, who instantly steal the show (along with Skylar’s hilariously sarcastic pet parrot, Cherry). While West is secretly a fan of Sky, he treats her like a regular person, giving her the safe space she desperately needs. The chemistry here is palpable. They build a flawless foundation of friendship and trust before crossing the line. Their witty banter will make you laugh out loud—especially during a certain chaotic canoe scene and a memorable introduction to West’s parents.

But it’s not all sunshine. When a malicious leak of intimate photos threatens Skylar’s reputation, her instinct is to run to protect West’s kids from the media fallout. West, battling his own deep-seated fears of abandonment, lets her go. Watching Skylar ultimately reclaim her power, stand up for herself as a crime victim, and fight for her found family is incredibly satisfying.

Elsie Silver delivers a deeply moving, realistic portrayal of trauma, healing, and unconditional love. West unexpectedly became one of my favorite heroes. If you want a romance that delivers high-stakes emotional growth alongside scorching chemistry, look no further.

6/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

Audiobook Sunday: WILD EYES by Elsie Silver. Narrators: Teddy Hamilton & Savannah Peachwood. Self-published. (September 3, 2024.) ASIN: ‎B0D98Q4F5C. Listening Length: 10 hours and 26 minutes.

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Narration by Zachary Webber & Vanessa Edwin

Rose Hill, Book 1

From the author:

Rosie Belmont has been driving me wild for years. The good kind of wild. The bad kind of wild. But mostly the kind of wild that comes with wanting your best friend’s little sister and knowing you can’t have her.

After living in the city, she comes blasting back into Rose Hill like a storm. Beautiful, messy, and chaotic.

And one wide-eyed desperate plea for a job is all it takes for me to hire her.

Forbes may have labeled me the World’s Hottest Billionaire but all I care about is opening my new recording studio. Something that comes to a screeching halt when I end up face-to-face with a young girl who claims I’m her biological father.

Now I spend my days balancing business with parenting a sullen twelve-year-old all while trying desperately to keep my hands the hell off my best friend’s little sister.

I vow to keep Rosie at arm’s length. I try to stick to scowls and grumpy one-liners. But with her verbal sparring is merely foreplay—friction that turns to blistering heat.

I know damn well I shouldn’t cross that line.

But shouldn’t and can’t are two very different things.

And the only thing I truly can’t do is resist her.

https://amzn.to/4vcXWqB

Elsie Silver kicks off her Rose Hill series with a charming small-town romance that blends humor, longing, family dynamics, and emotional growth. The narration really adds to the story; these readers brought these characters to life and made this book hard to put down.

Ford Grant has retreated to Rose Hill—the place where he spent his summers as a teenager—to focus on launching his recording studio and escape the spotlight that comes with being named Forbes’ hottest billionaire. His carefully controlled life is turned upside down when a twelve-year-old girl named Cora arrives, claiming to be his daughter.

As Ford struggles to balance fatherhood and business, Rosalie Belmont returns to town after leaving her high-powered corporate job. Rosie has always been the responsible one—the people-pleaser determined to make everyone proud—but beneath that polished exterior is someone messy, funny, and still figuring out who she wants to be. When she needs work, Ford hires her as his assistant, unable to say no to the woman he’s secretly loved for years.

The highlight of the novel is Ford’s relationship with Cora. Their awkward but heartfelt father-daughter moments are genuinely sweet, and Cora often steals every scene she’s in. Rosie also develops a wonderful bond with Cora, creating some of the book’s most touching moments.

Ford and Rosie have spent years pretending to hate each other, exchanging sarcastic banter while burying their feelings. Their childhood-frenemies dynamic provides plenty of humor, especially through their email exchanges, but at times the constant back-and-forth feels drawn out. Ford’s years of pining—including wearing the key to Rosie’s childhood diary around his neck—make his hesitation to pursue her frustrating, especially when much of the conflict centers on his fear of upsetting his best friend, who also happens to be Rosie’s brother.

While the romance delivers plenty of tension, longing, and “he falls first” energy, the chemistry didn’t fully click for me until late in the story. The unnecessary breakup and Ford’s tendency to overthink every decision occasionally slowed the momentum. I also wish Silver had explored Rosie’s experience with workplace sexual harassment in greater depth. It’s an important part of her backstory and motivation for returning home, but it remains largely surface-level when it could have added more emotional weight to her personal growth.

Despite those shortcomings, Wild Love is an entertaining start to the series. Fans of grumpy-sunshine romances, brothers-best-friend tropes, single-dad stories, workplace romances, and small-town settings will find plenty to enjoy. Between the witty banter, years of unresolved tension, and the lovable presence of Cora, it’s easy to fall hard for this new series.

5/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

WILD LOVE by Elsie Silver. Narrators: Zachary Webber & Vanessa Edwin. Self-published. (April 9, 2024). ASIN: ‎ B0CXYLNXKN. Listening Length: 11 hours and 26 minutes.

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Duet Narration by JF Harding, CJ Bloom, with Teddy Hamilton, Sean Masters, Connor Crais, Erin Mallon, Willa Jaymes, Meg Sylvan, & Austin Stone

The Dugout, Book 1

From the author:

Raising my cousin’s three kids wasn’t in my five-year plan.

Actually, it wasn’t in any plan.

One minute I’m a single labor and delivery nurse living a quiet life and the next, I’m navigating guardianship hearings, meltdowns, and homework I’m pretty sure requires a math degree.

Enter Hayes Carlisle.

My best friend’s older brother.

Chicago Colts newest catcher.

And the man I once kissed and immediately pretended I didn’t.

So, when the custody battle I’ve been dreading becomes a reality, I shouldn’t be surprised that Hayes swoops in with a wild idea—a fake relationship. According to him, pretending we’re together will polish his image and prove to the court I’m not taking on an instant family alone.

But pretending to be Hayes’ girlfriend is a terrible idea.

Because he remembers how to make me laugh.

Because he looks at me like our kiss wasn’t a one-time mistake.

Because the kids start asking him to read bedtime stories.

Because my heart starts wanting things my life doesn’t have room for.

I can manage the chaos. I can fight for these kids.

But pretending not to fall for Hayes Carlisle?

That might be the one thing I can’t do.

https://amzn.to/4tKmA0C

I love duet narration, where each narrator consistently voices their own character instead of simply alternating chapters. The full cast narration made this even more fun—especially with this lineup, which includes some of the best voices in the romance audio world.

Rayne has built an entire fictional Chicago sports universe, beginning with The Nest, a four-book hockey series centered on the Chicago Falcons, followed by the Grizzlies football series. The Dugout, the newest series, shifts into the world of baseball. While the series overlap a bit, you can easily jump into any of them without feeling lost—though longtime readers will catch plenty of fun Easter eggs along the way.

Hayes is the catcher for the fictional Chicago Colts baseball team and has secretly been crushing on his sister’s best friend, Leighton, for years. He’s never acted on it because he doesn’t want to risk disrupting their friendship. Leighton, meanwhile, is a nurse whose life is turned upside down when her cousin unexpectedly passes away and names her guardian of their three children. She steps in immediately — she’s been part of their lives for so long that the transition, while heartbreaking, is relatively smooth.

Things become more complicated when the children’s uncle and his wife contest the will and seek custody themselves. After struggling to have children, they see this tragedy as a chance to finally build a family of their own. But Leighton refuses to give up the kids she loves without a fight.

Hayes immediately steps in to support her. When the judge suggests that a single woman raising three children alone may struggle compared to an established married couple, Hayes impulsively claims that he and Leighton are in a committed relationship, which they absolutely are not. At least, not yet.

Being a professional baseball player means Hayes spends long stretches on the road, but whenever he’s home, he’s fully invested in building a life with Leighton and the kids. The more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to deny their feelings. There’s some family drama, challenges with the children, and the inevitable third-act breakup, but the journey to their happy ending is warm, charming, and fun. I’m already excited for the next book in the series.

There are a few things that came up that drew me out of the story, like Leighton’s ability to open her cousin’s cell phone, not to mention the husband’s cell phone, plus his secret, hidden cell phone. Not sure what world that happens in, and while I am usually happy to suspend my disbelief and move on, I found it annoying. And…

Note to the authors! If you are going to write baseball romances, yay! But please keep in mind that there are elements in this book that are just plain wrong – having a “surprise” pitcher show up in the middle of a game after a trade that no heard about? That would NEVER happen. It couldn’t happen. And the baseball award is called the Gold Glove, not the Golden Glove, which is awarded in boxing and soccer. Feel free to ask if you have any baseball-related questions – I’m no expert, but I am a librarian, and if I don’t know, I can find out. Thank you.

5/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE HOTSHOT by Piper Rayne. Duet Narrators: JF Harding, CJ Bloom, Teddy Hamilton, with Sean Masters, Connor Crais, Erin Mallon, Willa Jaymes, Meg Sylvan, & Austin Stone. Piper Rayne Inc. (February 13, 2026). ASIN: B0GNB77X7R. Listening Length: 8 hours and 48 minutes.

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