In a Heartbeat

I went into *In a Heartbeat* expecting another tired romance where the love interests hate each other at first sight—but RJ Nolan flipped the script in the best way possible. Sam and Dani aren’t enemies by design; they’re two people who’ve been burned before and are terrified of risking it again. That fear makes their push-and-pull feel urgent, not contrived. Sam’s cop instinct is to control everything, but Dani’s sheer refusal to back down forces her to confront emotions she’s buried for years. The slow unraveling of Sam’s defenses is the heart of this story, and it’s handled with a realism that’s rare in romance. That said, the middle act drags a bit when the central mystery takes a backseat to emotional angst—sometimes, I found myself wishing for a quicker resolution to the case so we could get back to the good stuff. Angela Dawe’s narration is the secret weapon here. She nails Sam’s gruff, by-the-book exterior but also nails the way that shell cracks when Dani’s around. Dawe’s voice for Dani is bright and teasing, making their banter feel like a verbal sparring match you’re not supposed to enjoy—but of course, you do. My only critique? A few supporting characters (like Sam’s ex) feel underdeveloped, their roles reduced to serving Sam’s backstory rather than standing on their own. But that’s a minor quibble in a story that otherwise delivers on every promise. If you love romances where the tension isn’t just in the kiss scenes but in the quiet moments of vulnerability, this audiobook will wreck you—in the best way.