Okay so everyone kept telling me this book was pure spice with a side of family drama, and honestly? They weren't wrong. But here's the thing - I went in expecting a quick, fun listen while finishing a logo project, and instead I found myself pausing my work multiple times because Candace's journey hit way harder than I anticipated.
The setup is classic forbidden romance: good girl walks into a tattoo parlor, bad boy with talented hands gives her more than ink. I know, I know. We've heard this before. But Cherrie Lynn does something sneaky here - she makes you actually care about why Candace has been playing it safe her whole life. That birthday rebellion? It's not just about getting a tattoo. It's about finally choosing yourself after years of being everyone else's version of perfect.
My heart. MY HEART.
The Slow Burn That Actually Burned
Brian could've been such a cliché - the brooding tattoo artist with a chip on his shoulder. And sure, some of that is there. But the way he sees Candace? The way he recognizes she's suffocating under everyone's expectations? That chemistry is chef's kiss. There's this moment early on where he basically tells her she's been invisible to herself, and I had to put down my stylus because excuse me sir, I did not consent to being called out like this.
The family drama is messy in the best way. Candace's people HATE Brian, and not in a cute misunderstanding way - in a real, ugly, classist way that felt unfortunately authentic. Her cousin dated him first (yikes), her family thinks he's trash, and watching her navigate that while falling for him... it's complicated in a way that romance sometimes glosses over. Lynn doesn't let anyone off easy.
This book felt like staying up too late texting someone you shouldn't, knowing you'll pay for it tomorrow but not caring.
The Voice in My Head (With Some Notes)
So here's where I gotta be real with you. Alix Dale's narration is... a mixed bag. When she's doing Candace? When she's hitting those emotional beats? Velvet and honey, truly. The vulnerability in her voice when Candace finally stands up to her family had me tearing up at my desk (Frida gave me a very judgmental look, but she's a cat, she doesn't understand love).
BUT. The male voices. I'm sorry, I really wanted to love this whole performance, but Brian sometimes sounds like he's doing a weird accent that nobody asked for? It's not a dealbreaker - I've listened through worse - but there were moments I had to mentally adjust and remind myself that this is supposed to be a sexy tattoo artist, not whatever that voice was trying to be. Some listeners apparently found it really distracting, and I get it. I was able to push past it because the story hooked me, but your mileage may vary.
The emotional delivery though? When it counts, Dale delivers. The steamy scenes hit right (and there are PLENTY of them - Abuela would've clutched her rosary so hard). The pacing is solid, never dragged for me even at 1.0x.
Who's This For (And Who Should Skip)
If you're sensitive to narrator issues with male voices, maybe sample first. If you can push through some awkward voice choices for a genuinely emotional forbidden romance with excellent spice? You'll probably love this as much as I did.
Already Downloading the Next One
Look, this is a rainy Sunday book. It's comfort food with jalapeños - warm and familiar with enough kick to keep you interested. Is it going to change your life? Probably not. But did I ugly-cry during the confrontation scene with Candace's mom? Maybe. (Yes. Definitely yes.)
The thing about books like this is they remind you that choosing yourself is an act of rebellion. That loving someone your family disapproves of takes actual courage. Jane Eyre explores that same courage—choosing love despite everyone telling you it's wrong—though obviously with way less spice and a lot more Gothic drama. That getting a tattoo at 25 can be about so much more than ink.
I'm already downloading the next one in the series. Don't judge me.
