Highball and Chain

About This Audiobook

Kathryn M. Hearst’s *Highball and Chain* delivers a fresh twist on the arranged-marriage trope, blending New Orleans’ sultry charm with the Marchionni family’s dangerous allure. Enzo Marchionni, the city’s most eligible—and infuriating—chef, finds himself saddled with a marriage of convenience to a woman who’s exactly his equal in stubbornness. Their banter crackles with chemistry, but the real star here is the setting: Hearst’s descriptions of Bourbon Street’s neon glow and the Marchionni kitchen’s clanging chaos make this feel like a love letter to the Big Easy. It’s a world where romance simmers under the surface of every highball, and the stakes are as hot as the étouffée.

The audiobook shines thanks to the dual narration by Aaron Shedlock and Virginia Rose. Shedlock’s rich, velvety tones embody Enzo’s swagger, while Rose’s sharp, playful delivery brings his future wife’s fiery spirit to life. The chemistry between the narrators isn’t just a bonus—it’s essential, making their verbal sparring feel as natural as a shared bottle of wine. The pacing is brisk, ensuring the humor and tension never let up, though some listeners might wish for a touch more emotional depth in the later chapters. Still, this is a rom-com with teeth, where the laughs are as satisfying as the payoff.