Everyone raves about J. Kenner's ability to write dominant antiheroes who make you forget your own name. And look, I get it. Tyler Sharp is exactly the kind of bad-decision-in-a-suit that romance readers live for. But here's the thing nobody warned me about: this audiobook requires more patience than potty training a toddler. Which is saying something, because Sophie is currently staging a full rebellion against the toilet.
I started this during my sacred car-in-the-garage time, expecting steamy escapism. What I got was... slower than expected. Not the plot—the plot moves fine, all dark dealings and forbidden attraction and Sloane trying to resist a man who clearly won't take no for an answer (in that romance novel way, not the creepy way). The narration, though. Heather Smith speaks at a pace that made me feel like I was listening underwater.
The Speed Dial Situation
I usually listen at 1.25x because I'm not trying to break records, just trying to finish a book before my kids finish elementary school. But this one? I had to bump it up to 1.5x just to feel like normal conversation speed. Some reviewers apparently went full 1.7x, and honestly, I believe them. Smith has a perfectly pleasant voice—easy to listen to, no weird breathing sounds or page-turning noises—but the pacing felt like she was reading to someone who might need extra time to process each word. I'm a tired mom, not incapacitated.
Her Tyler voice is actually pretty good, which matters because Tyler is EVERYWHERE in this book. Deep, commanding, exactly what you'd expect from a dangerous businessman with secrets. But there's this lilt to her general narration that felt slightly off to me—not quite an accent, just a rhythm that didn't match how I'd imagined Sloane's internal voice. Minor complaint, but after 11.5 hours, minor things become noticeable.
Sloane's Black-and-White World Gets Gray Real Fast
Here's what Kenner does well: she writes women who think they have their lives figured out until they absolutely don't. Sloane grew up with clear moral lines—right and wrong, good and evil, no room for ambiguity. Then Tyler walks in with his ruthless ambitions and sordid dealings and that smile that apparently makes women forget they have principles.
The tension between them works. It's not groundbreaking—you know exactly where this is going from chapter one—but sometimes you don't need groundbreaking. Gabriel's Inferno gave me that same predictable-but-satisfying feeling. Sometimes you need to know the ending will be satisfying so you can relax into the ride. This delivered on that front.
What I appreciated was the crime drama element layered into the romance. Library Journal called it "steamy with a dark edge" and that's accurate. There's actual plot here beyond the bedroom scenes (though those are definitely present—content warning for the easily scandalized). The mystery around Tyler's business kept me interested during the slower romantic build-up sections.
The Narrator Swap Nobody Asked For
Apparently the first book in this series, "Wanted," was narrated by Saffron Martindale, and some listeners are still mourning that switch. I haven't listened to the first one, so I can't compare, but I can see why people get attached to a narrator and feel weird when someone new takes over. It's like when your favorite coffee shop changes baristas—technically the coffee is the same, but something feels different.
I also found myself wishing for a male narrator for Tyler's dialogue. Smith does fine with his voice, but there's something about hearing an actual male voice that adds dimension to romantic tension. When he's being commanding and dangerous, it would hit different coming from a baritone. Not a dealbreaker, just a "what could have been" moment.
Who's This Actually For?
If you love dark romance with antiheroes, don't mind adjusting playback speed, and want something you can pause 47 times without losing the thread—this is your book. Skip it if slow narration makes you ragey even at 1.5x, or if you need dual narration for your romantic tension to land.
Perfect For Multitasking Moms (With Speed Adjustments)
This book survived approximately 47 pauses—Sophie's nap was a disaster this week—and I could still follow the plot when I came back. That's the real test for me. Can I pause mid-scene to break up a fight about whose turn it is on the iPad and still remember what's happening? Yes. The story isn't so complex that you need a character wiki or a notebook.
The 11.5-hour runtime felt long at normal speed but totally manageable at 1.5x. In the Drink was another one I had to speed through during those stolen car moments—same kind of escapist romance that doesn't require your full brain power. I finished it in about a week and a half, which is respectable given my listening windows are basically stolen moments between chaos.
Garage-Approved, Mascara Intact
Look, this isn't going to change your life. It's not going to make you cry at school pickup (unlike that one Emily Henry book that WRECKED me in the pickup line, mascara everywhere, other moms definitely judged). But it's solid escapism with enough plot to feel like you're reading something substantial and enough heat to remind you that you're a person with interests beyond snack schedules and pediatrician appointments.
If you're already a J. Kenner fan, you know what you're getting and you'll probably enjoy this. If you're new to her, maybe start with the first book so you're not thrown by narrator comparisons. And definitely—DEFINITELY—bump up that playback speed. Your sanity will thank you.
My book club would probably love this. If I ever have time for book club again. (I won't.)
