Falling for Zeke

I’ll admit, I went into *Falling for Zeke* skeptical—romantic suspense can so easily tip into melodrama or, worse, turn the ‘danger’ into a flimsy plot device. But Blackard avoids both pitfalls by grounding the story in two deeply flawed, compelling leads. Zeke isn’t just a brooding ex-soldier; he’s a man who’s actively *bad* at vulnerability, and watching him fumble through protecting Samantha (and her sharp-witted daughter) is equal parts frustrating and endearing. Samantha, meanwhile, isn’t a damsel—she’s a woman who’s already survived hell and isn’t about to hand over her agency, even to a man with Zeke’s skills. Their dynamic crackles with authenticity, though I’ll say the middle act drags slightly when the suspense plot takes a backseat to introspection. Lorana Hoopes’ narration is a masterclass in dual-performance voicing. Her Zeke is all rough-edged gravitas, his voice the auditory equivalent of a five o’clock shadow, while Samantha’s tones shift seamlessly between exhaustion and steel-spined determination. The production quality is crisp, though I docked half a star for a few awkward pauses in dialogue transitions—nothing ruinous, but noticeable if you’re listening closely. What really sold me, though, was how Hoopes handles the suspense sequences. When the stalker’s threats escalate, her delivery turns icy, the words landing like shards of glass. It’s not a perfect audiobook (the villain’s motives could use more depth), but it’s a *gripping* one—ideal for listeners who want their romance with a side of adrenaline and their heroes with more scars than smooth talk.