Look, I'm just gonna say it: the "secret" plotline in romance novels is starting to feel like a trope I need a break from. Both Ashleigh and Alex have secrets they're hiding from each other. She's secretly writing erotic romance. He's got some mysterious thing that might push her away. And I spent a solid chunk of this audiobook wanting to shake them both and say "JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER." You know, like adults.
But here's the thing - I still finished it. During nap time. During car time. During that magical 25 minutes of school drop-off when nobody is asking me for a snack. So clearly Nicole Edwards is doing something right.
The Voices That Got Me Through Target Runs
Ava Erickson and Patrick Leigh narrate this one together, and honestly? They're the reason I stuck with it. Having dual narrators for romance is such a game-changer when you're listening in fragments like I am. Patrick handles Alex's chapters with this low, gravelly thing that works really well for the whole "I've been resisting you for a decade" vibe. And Ava gives Ashleigh enough personality that she doesn't just blend into Generic Romance Heroine territory.
The pacing is solid - not too slow, not rushing through the good parts (you know what I mean). I did notice the accents got a little wobbly here and there, but nothing that pulled me out completely. When you're trying to listen while simultaneously preventing a toddler from eating sidewalk chalk, minor accent inconsistencies are not your biggest concern.
The Slow Burn That's Actually Pretty Hot
Okay so this is book three in the Club Destiny series, which - if you're not familiar - is basically a series centered around a pretty exclusive club with some, shall we say, adventurous members. The steam level is HIGH. Like, don't-listen-with-your-windows-down-at-school-pickup high. I learned that lesson the hard way. (Not with this book specifically, but still. Lesson learned.)
Ashleigh and Alex have this decade-long history of almost-but-not-quite, and Edwards does a decent job of building that tension. The whole "she's secretly an erotic romance author" thing is kind of cute - there's something meta about listening to a romance novel about someone who writes romance novels. Ashleigh's worried about being judged for what she writes, which... relatable content for anyone who's ever hidden their Kindle screen on an airplane.
The plot itself is pretty predictable. You know they're going to end up together. You know the secrets will come out. You know there will be a moment of conflict before the happily ever after. But sometimes predictable is exactly what you need. Not every book needs to reinvent the wheel. Sometimes you just want the wheel to roll smoothly to a satisfying destination. Beneath This Mask gave me that same reliable satisfaction—steamy, emotional, and exactly what I needed during a particularly chaotic week.
Worth the 8 Hours and 47 Minutes?
At just under 9 hours, this is totally doable in a week if you've got regular listening time. I knocked it out in about five days, which for me is practically speed-reading. It survived being paused approximately 8,000 times (conservative estimate) and I never lost the thread of what was happening.
Here's my honest take: if you're already into the Club Destiny series, this is a solid addition. If you're new to Nicole Edwards, this probably isn't where I'd start - you'll miss some of the world-building and character connections from earlier books. And if you're looking for something with deep emotional complexity or surprising plot twists... this ain't it. I went into Rise of Nine hoping for more complexity and got something similarly straightforward—not a bad thing, just worth knowing upfront.
Who Should Listen (And Who Should Skip)
If you want something steamy, easy to follow, and guaranteed to end happy? Car time approved. This one's for the moms who need reliable escapism in 15-minute increments. Skip it if you need plot surprises or can't handle explicit content in your earbuds. Not groundbreaking, but sometimes you don't need groundbreaking. Sometimes you need a book that delivers exactly what it promises while you're hiding in your parked car eating the good snacks you hid from your kids.
My book club would probably love this - if I ever have time for book club again. For now, it's going in my "comfort reads" category, right between the other spicy romances I pretend I don't listen to.
