A False Start

I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes at first when I saw the ‘grumpy/sunshine’ trope paired with a rodeo setting—how many times can we revisit the brooding cowboy? But *A False Start* surprised me by making the familiar feel fresh. The age gap isn’t just a plot device; it’s a constant, prickly presence, forcing both characters to confront what they *think* they want versus what they actually need. The hero’s gruffness isn’t performative—it’s earned, rooted in a backstory that unfolds with just the right amount of restraint. And Nadia? She’s no wide-eyed ingenue. Her ambition and sharp edges make their dynamic feel like a negotiation, not a surrender. The narration is where this audiobook *shines*. Sebastian York’s performance is masterclass-level—his voice carries the weight of a man who’s spent years convincing himself he’s better off alone, and you *hear* the crack in his armor when Nadia pushes back. CJ Bloom’s Nadia is equally compelling, her delivery swinging effortlessly between sarcasm and softness. My only critique? The pacing drags slightly in the middle; the rodeo subplot, while atmospheric, occasionally steals focus from the central relationship. And while the steam level is high, a few scenes lean *just* a little too hard on physical descriptions over emotional depth. Still, the production quality is flawless—no awkward edits, no jarring shifts in tone—and the ending lands with the kind of quiet satisfaction that lingers. If you’re tired of romances that sand down the rough edges, this one leaves them intact—and that’s why it works.