Nick

About This Audiobook

Lori Wilde’s *Nick* is a western romance that swaps out the usual sun-dappled pastures for a sharp-edged, slow-burn standoff between a by-the-book cop and a cocky rancher who’s all charm and no filter. This isn’t your grandmother’s cowboy tale—it’s a cat-and-mouse game where the “newlyweds” are undercover, the chemistry is combustible, and the Texas heat is nothing compared to the friction between Michele Mallory and Nick Nickerson. Wilde leans into the absurdity of their forced proximity (shared motel rooms, *one bed*, and a ranch full of nosy locals) without sacrificing the emotional stakes. The result? A romance that’s equal parts laugh-out-loud and swoon-worthy, with a mystery that keeps the pages turning.

Kathryn Lynhurst’s narration is the secret weapon here. She nails Michele’s dry, exasperated tone—imagine a cop who’s *this* close to arresting her fake husband for sheer audacity—while giving Nick a drawl so smooth it should come with a warning label. The pacing clips along, but Lynhurst never rushes the banter, letting the dialogue’s snap and crackle land like a well-aimed lasso. What sets this audiobook apart is its refusal to soften the edges: the heroine isn’t here to be won over easily, the hero’s charm is a weapon as much as a trait, and the setting (a ranch with more secrets than cows) feels lived-in, not postcard-pretty. For listeners tired of romance where the conflict melts away too soon, *Nick* delivers a satisfying tug-of-war."

"review": "I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes at the “fake marriage” premise—until about five minutes in, when Michele Mallory, our no-nonsense policewoman, responds to Nick’s first flirtatious jab with, *“Try that again and I’ll tase you.”* That’s when I knew *Nick* wasn’t playing by the usual rules. Lori Wilde writes undercover romances like a pro, but what hooked me was how *uncooperative* these leads are. Michele isn’t secretly pining; she’s actively plotting Nick’s downfall. Nick isn’t a reformed bad boy; he’s a smug, quick-witted rancher who treats their “marriage” like a game he’s already won. Their dynamic is less “will they/won’t they” and more “how long until one of them snaps?”—and it’s *glorious*.

Kathryn Lynhurst’s performance sells the tension. She gives Michele a clipped, professional cadence that cracks just enough to reveal her exasperation, while Nick’s voice is all lazy confidence, like a man who’s never met a woman he couldn’t charm. (Spoiler: Michele is that woman.) The production is clean, with no distracting edits, though I’ll dock half a point for a few moments where the dialogue transitions feel *just* a beat too abrupt—like the audio equivalent of a scene cut mid-glare. The mystery subplot (involving a shady ranch deal) could’ve used more meat, but the real draw is the verbal sparring. My only real critique? The resolution wraps up a tad neatly after so much delicious friction. Still, for fans of enemies-to-lovers with actual *enmity*, or anyone who’s ever wanted to throw a cowboy into a cactus, this is a winner. Just don’t blame me if you start side-eyeing every charming man in a Stetson."

"tags": [
"enemies-to-lovers romance audiobook