What happens when you fall for someone who might be a murderer - but neither of you knows for sure?
Okay, so I picked this up during a late-night design session, thinking it'd be background noise while I worked on a rebrand project. Reader, I did not work on that rebrand project. I sat there with my stylus hovering over my tablet like an idiot while Ashlyn Drake made every questionable decision my abuela would have screamed at the TV about.
The Setup That Hooked Me
The premise is delicious. Psychology student finds hot amnesiac handcuffed to a hospital bed, accused of murder he can't remember committing. She decides to help him piece together his past using his tattoos and paintings as clues. It's giving telenovela energy in the best way - mysterious stranger, forbidden attraction, secrets lurking in the shadows. Kendall Ryan knows exactly what she's doing here, and honestly? I was along for the ride from chapter one.
The chemistry between Ashlyn and her mystery man is chef's kiss. Like, the slow build of trust when neither person knows what they're dealing with? The tension of wondering if you're falling for a killer? My heart. MY HEART. Release Me had that same delicious tension between attraction and uncertainty, though in a completely different power dynamic. I ugly-cried at least twice, though I'll admit one of those was more frustration than catharsis (we'll get there).
Leah Mallach's Voice - A Complicated Love
Here's the thing about Leah Mallach's narration: her voice is warm and clear, like honey in chamomile tea. She handles the emotional beats beautifully - when Ashlyn is conflicted, you feel it in your chest. When things get steamy (and they do get steamy), she commits. No awkward pauses, no weird inflections. Just... heat.
But.
The pacing. Oh, the pacing. I listen at 1.0x because I'm a purist who wants to savor every word, and even I found myself drifting during some sections. There's a deliberate slowness to her delivery that works for tender moments but drags during plot-heavy scenes. I caught myself checking my phone more than once, which - for a romance audiobook under five hours - shouldn't happen.
(I ended up bumping to 1.25x for the middle third. It hurt my soul a little, but it helped.)
The Sean Crisden Situation
Can we talk about the listing saying "dual narration" when Sean Crisden literally only shows up for a brief epilogue? Because I feel deceived. I was expecting his perspective woven throughout - you know, that delicious he-said-she-said format that makes romance audiobooks so addictive. Instead, it's 95% Leah with Sean appearing at the very end like a celebrity cameo in a Marvel movie.
Don't get me wrong, his epilogue is lovely. The man has an AudioFile Earphones Award for a reason. But if you're picking this up expecting a true dual-narration experience, adjust those expectations now.
Where It Unraveled (Pun Intended)
The story itself is engaging - smart heroine, genuine mystery, emotional stakes that feel real. But some plot threads just... hang there. Like laundry you forgot to take down. There are questions raised about the hero's past that never quite get answered, and a few character decisions that made me pause my cats' judgment-free zone to say "Girl, WHAT are you doing?" out loud.
Abuela would have loved the drama but yelled at the screen about the loose ends. She had strong opinions about proper storytelling structure.
Your Vibe Check
This is a rainy Sunday book. Or a Tuesday night when you need something that'll make you feel things without requiring too much brainpower. Paris Rose hits that same sweet spot when you want emotional depth without heavy lifting. The vibes are immaculate if you're in the mood for contemporary romance with a splash of mystery and a lot of steam.
If slow-paced narration makes you antsy, bump up the speed. If unresolved plot points drive you crazy, maybe sample first. And if you absolutely need dual narration throughout - this ain't it.
But if you want to spend a few hours wondering whether love can exist without memory, whether trust can bloom in uncertainty, whether a psychology student should definitely NOT be doing what she's doing... yeah. This one delivers. Messy, complicated, emotionally satisfying in that way that leaves you a little breathless.
I finished it at 2 AM with Diego asleep on my keyboard and mascara under my eyes. No regrets.
