Let it Show

Juniper Ridge #2

by Tawna Fenske

Step one in starting my new life: Don’t fall for my shrink.
Scratch that. Step one is settling my daughter in our new small town life.
So what if it’s the set of a reality TV show?
I agreed to let cameras follow me around, but stay the hell away from my kid.
And screw the storyline about a grumpy single dad finding love.
I’m here for the fresh start.
It’s bad enough I’ve got these sessions with sexy psychologist Mari.
Mari and her foul-mouthed parrot and her love of quirky trivia.
Mari and our blazing hot kiss in a bizarre underground bunker.
I can’t fall for her.
See, I’m pretty sure the good doc’s hiding something huge.
And a woman with secrets is a recipe for heartache.
Take it from a guy who knows.
A romance like this is forbidden six ways to Sunday.
So why can’t we keep our hands off each other?
One-click this forbidden doctor/patient rom-com about a single dad trying to find a new life in a small town and the psychiatrist with a secret who could just be his new chance at love.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Rom Com, Contemporary Romance, Ebooks, Humor

262 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 12, 2021

About the author

When Tawna Fenske finished her English lit degree at 22, she celebrated by filling a giant trash bag full of romance novels and dragging it everywhere until she’d read them all. Now she’s a RITA Award finalist, USA Today bestselling author who writes humorous fiction, risqué romance, and heartwarming love stories with a quirky twist. Publishers Weekly has praised Tawna’s offbeat romances with multiple starred reviews and noted, “There’s something wonderfully relaxing about being immersed in a story filled with over-the-top characters in undeniably relatable situations. Heartache and humor go hand in hand.”

Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, step-kids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year. To find out more about Tawna and her books, visit www.tawnafenske.com.

Reviews

[DJ Sakata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quotes:

What the hell was I thinking? I’m starting to wonder if I should tattoo the phrase on my wrist as I grab my keys and sweater and try not to make eye contact with anyone.

I can’t stop kissing her, murmuring words that come out in a jumble of syllables even I can’t understand. She’s reduced me to speaking in tongues.

“You know I don’t like judgment words.” That’s what I say out loud, but inside my brain shrieks, “bitch” at maximum decibels.

“You know, I usually just urge patients to cry it out. Releasing emotions is cathartic.” “You’ve got catharsis handled already… We’re taking care of you with shallow beauty tips and booze.”

My Review:

As with every Tawna Fenske book I’ve been fortunate enough to pick up, this was another fun and amusing read with endearing characters tumbling into a sweet and sexy romance, which is my favorite kind, and honestly - they should all be as such! The witty and engaging storylines held numerous interesting, unusual, and entertaining elements such as a fledgling new romance, major life, and career transitions, the foibles of being a therapist and a human, a swearing parrot, living in a new reality show community, celebrity, a shifty and shallow ex, damaging secrets, itchy family issues, and beer. Something to please everyone – and that is not just the former therapist in me talking as that naughty bird certainly put more than a few smirks on my face.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narrators do a great job...

****3.5 Stars****

I'm so glad my hubby's job does not involve keeping secrets. It would bug the bejeezus out of me just knowing he wasn't allowed to share what his job involved, who he was dealing with, or what he was doing. Straight up...I'm a nosey parker. I also care about my hubby's mental health and I know that sometimes he just wants to vent when his work is stressing him out. If he wasn't able to share, I think that would be bad for our relationship.

Let it Show, while mostly entertaining and well-performed by the narrators, did frustrate me a little. I struggled with the love story because I didn't think it was appropriate AT ALL! You can tell me until the cows come home that she was hesitant to start the relationship but she still did it knowing she was stepping over the line. I'm not going to saying more because I don't want to spoil it.

So while the love story wasn't a complete winner for me, I really liked both Griff and Mari. Griff was an awesome father and a wee bit sexy when he gets all technical about hops and blends and fruity flavoured beers. Griff's daughter was also an absolute sweetheart and I loved her mature attitude and compassionate heart. Mari's siblings are very entertaining and I loved catching up with them again.

Overall, the narrators, Erin Mallon and Jason Clarke, did a great job of bringing this story to life. The characters were lovable, original but a little imperfect which made them very real. I did struggle a wee bit with all of the Psychological evaluations, digging into relationships, and justifying bad choices. I can't imagine starting a relationship in front of the cameras. I know this is a major part of what Juniper Ridge is all about, but it only reinforces my dislike of reality shows.

If you are looking for an entertaining audiobook and have the ability to not take it all too seriously, Let it Show might be perfect for you.

Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.

[BrandyD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun series.

[Ez · Rating 4 out of 5]

One thing I love about Tawna Fenske is that I know what I’m getting. Her books always manage to have similar themes but written in a way that’s fresh, entertaining and always leave me with a smile on my face. Let it Show was no different, taking the familiar grumpy, single dad trope but using a reality TV setting to mix things up. This is the second book in this series. As with all of the Fenske series I’ve read, this novel can be read as a complete standalone and holds up brilliantly on its own (just as an aside for any readers as fanatical as I am in reading books in order – Book 1 sets out more detail on the location and premise of Juniper Ridge but you definitely don’t need this to read Book 2. You just get a teeny bit more background information. Fenske is one of the only authors where I’ve actually read several of her books out of order with zero issues). In fact, the couple from the first book (Dean and Vanessa) probably feature the least out of all of the Judson siblings that this series focusses on.

For those not familiar with the fairly new Juniper Ridge series, it’s based around six siblings with various backgrounds in the juggernaut that is the Hollywood entertainment industry. They come together to set up a new reality TV series slash social experiment in which they’ve purchased a former cult commune, refurbished the bejeebus out of it and then carried out an extensive recruitment process to bring people of all different backgrounds together to be filmed going about their daily lives, hopefully finding love in the process.

Griffin, who was taken into Juniper Ridge to run the brewery, has had it rough the past couple of years. Upon seeking therapy and then couples counselling, his wife and mother of their daughter, Sophie, is encouraged to seek what will make her happy. Unfortunately chasing her dreams means moving to Hollywood to try and make it as an actress and leaving her family behind. As a result, she leaves Griffin with a divorce, sole custody and a deep-seated resentment and distrust of therapists whom he feels encouraged his wife into leaving him. Having lost pretty much everything except his daughter when his marriage fell apart, he took a leap of faith and entered Juniper Ridge on the hope that it would be the fresh start he and Sophie needed. He’s not looking for love, preferring to keep his own company, however interacting with the lovely Marilyn (Mari) knocks all of his preconceived ideas on their head. The only problem? She’s the enemy, aka a dreaded therapist.

As per usual, Fenske liberally splashes all of the writing elements she uses so well as an author throughout the book: witty dialogue, humour (which often borders on the drier side of things which I love), great characters that are well-developed and a feel-good and distinctive take on happily ever afters. The book is paced well with just the right amount of angst scattered throughout that keeps you turning the pages without making you want to spend hours listening to Adele and questioning why the author hates you. While Book 1 of this series spent a bit more time setting things up (e.g. the grounds, the set up, the key players and community members), the recaps are on the shorter side in Let it Show which meant Griffin and Mari’s relationship was the focus from the get-go. There was a feel of instalove between the two which I liked as going back and forth with ‘will they or won’t they’ can frustrate me. They liked each other and went from there even though they both had enough baggage to take a round the world trip.

I found both Griffin and Mari really likeable. The former had serious hang ups about his wife leaving him as per what he saw as a psychologist’s recommendations and the latter suffered from a borderline serious case of middle child syndrome. Mari had a younger and older sister who were close to each other, often making her feel as though she was on the outside looking in. Growing up in a show biz family, she felt she had something to prove and had taken part in her own Hollywood series that provided therapy to celebrities. I found both Griffin and Mari’s issues repetitive at times as the reader was reminded of them quite a bit, but this is more of a personal preference. I really liked Griffin’s daughter, Sophie. It can be so hard for children in stories to be likeable, especially when they’re teens, but the author definitely smashed this out of the park, having her show vulnerability and typical teenager woe without the character being obnoxious. Griffin’s relationship with her was solid and I loved how all he wanted was to be a good dad. His self-deprecating monologues were also on point and left me smiling.

Since it can’t all be smooth sailing, there is, of course, a hiccup in Griffin and Mari’s relationship. The latter is keeping a pretty massive secret that she can’t do anything about due to confidentiality. The issue is pretty easy to figure out early on in the book and while it caused major drama, the author thankfully didn’t drag it out. She did, however, make me want to take a set of steak knives to few of the characters and I felt myself getting seriously stabby and thinking half of the characters were dead to me but she used her mad skillz to make the situation resolve itself in a way that was done well without being cheesy. I can’t emphasise enough how appreciative I am of this as I honestly thought a particular event, while suspecting it was on the cards, would leave a really bad taste in my mouth but by the end I didn’t want to set my Kindle on fire or anything. Sooooo now I’m pretty sure Fenske is a magician or something lol.

The siblings all make an appearance, some more than others. From a community standpoint, there aren’t too many cameos from members as this book focusses on the stage where everyone is moving in and just starting to get to know one another. Like Book 1, Let it Show started off each chapter with a small reality TV-style snippet from the character whose point of view that section was from. I really enjoyed this again, finding it a cute and fun way to start each chapter. I mentioned that this book had the author’s characteristic humour and there were a few parts in the story that had me laughing out loud. It was a bit predictable, but I still couldn’t put it down.

A special shout out to Ms Fenske for having Mari’s hobby as crochet. Craft nerds (such as myself) unite! Overall, this was a really entertaining, light and feel-good read. There were a few bread crumbs dropped in about the next couple (Lauren and her ex where the relationship didn’t end on good terms) which already has me chomping on the bit. I’m really enjoying this series and can’t wait for the next book.

[Pamela Lilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with book 1 in the series, I was not immediately drawn into the story or the characters, and yet again it didn’t take me too long to fall under the spell that the author and the narrators (Jason Clarke and Erin Mallon) cast. Perfect. Mari Judson, show psychologist, and Griffin Walsh (yes I even love his name), single dad, and master brewer, find they have a super spark that, no matter how much they try to fight it, cannot be ignored. Not that is, until Mari realises it would be unethical for her to continue to see Griffin as more than just a friend. Add in a totally adorable 12 year old girl, and a completely cheeky and hilarious parrot and we have some super sweet laugh out loud moments throughout. The narration ensured that I was entertained throughout.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very adorable

Let it Show
Juniper Ridge Romantic Comedies
By: Tawna Fenske
Narrated by: Jason Clark, Erin Mallon

I love the concept of the story! This is my first time reading/listening the book by this author. It was quite entertaining and I love the chemistry between the 2 characters, Griffin and Mari. They are on a tv reality show and she’s the therapist as he is a single father trying to keep things in sane, keep it together. I love the banters and yes, it took me awhile to get into it but it’s perhaps, a slow start for me. In any case, it is a good story and definitely recommend it perhaps audio. The narrators did a fantastic job!

[Alfred Hellstern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Tawna Fenske’s second book in the Juniper Ridge series, Let It Show, was a different experience from the first book in the series, “Show Time”.
In that first book, Tawna established the concept of a planned community cum reality TV show, on an abandoned cult compound in central Oregon, and the book’s love interests had to find their way together against the machinations of an unhinged former girlfriend stalker.

While that scenario isn’t a laughing matter, I found the main premise of Let It Show more intriguing.
Griffin is the new brew master of the community and Mari is the community’s resident psychologist. He’s a single dad longing for a fresh start, and she’s a middle child who never felt like she fit in with her Hollywood star siblings running the community. They’re attracted to each other from the first, but then Mari finds out that she may have played a role in Griffin’s divorce. Mari was Griffin’s wife Gabrielle’s therapist back in LA a couple of years ago, and Gabrielle ended up leaving Griffin and their adorable preteen daughter Sophie to pursue her dream of acting.

Because she’s ethically and professionally bound to not divulge to anyone, including Griffin, that she was his wife’s therapist, she’s in an impossible situation. What follows is a hot-and-cold dance of Mari alternatively giving in to her attraction to Griffin and then trying to step back from their undeniable attraction to each other because she literally has no choice but to hold back the truth. As a reader, you can see the train wreck coming and you just wonder how they will EVER get together, so you just HAVE to keep reading.

And of course, when it finally comes to light that Mari was the therapist that Griffin has blamed for the demise of his marriage, Griffin uses some choice words in his anger, feeling that he never had any control over his own destiny, and thinking he’s been played twice by the same woman.

Griffin needs to realize that Mari wasn’t to blame, neither for his wife leaving him, nor for not telling him about her involvement. He does come around to that conclusion eventually, resulting in a suitable amount of the requisite groveling and an HEA which didn’t look possible at all at the beginning of their story.

Tawna tells the story in her usual engaging and direct style, from alternating first-person POVs that keeps things flowing. While there were many funny moments, for example when Griffin’s and Mari’s first encounter is a hilarious conversation where they completely talk past each other, or when a chatty parrot makes inappropriate interjections at the wrong (right?) time, I personally missed some of the outrageous, laugh-out-loud moments I got used to in many of Tawna’s other books.

The setup of creating a community/reality TV show in a former cult compound felt a bit contrived but is definitely a different way to set up a captive audience for a book series that features the six Judson siblings.

I definitely enjoyed this book with its journey to love and acceptance, where Griffin can let go of his abandonment and therapist-blaming issues, Mari can let go of her worries about fitting in with her siblings, and where they find each other not in spite of the usual brokenness of one or both of the characters, but by overcoming an ethical and professional dilemma.

I received an advanced reader copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Booklover Judy Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this rom com featuring the Judson family psychologist, Mari, and the new Juniper Ridge brewer, Griffin. This is book 2 in the Juniper Ridge series and can be read as a standalone. It is written in first person from a dual POV.
I loved Griffin. He is such a good dad to his 12-year-old daughter. He is doing his best. He has some baggage from his previous marriage, and he is in the market for a fresh start, not a relationship. I love his gruff exterior and his brewing expertise that reeks of an intelligent mind. I love his sense of humor, his soft heart, and his love for his daughter.
Mari is Doctor of Psychology and feels like the Judson sibling who doesn’t really fit. I love through the course of the story that her sibling bonds are strengthened. I love that they become closer and have Mari’s back when she needs them. I love how quickly she falls for Griff, despite her secrets. I felt her pain, her fear, and her joy.
There is passion, humor, and some angst as Griffin and Mari find their HEA. I loved the supporting characters, especially Griff’s daughter, Soph, and the parrot, Leonard. (There are some seriously laugh out loud moments with that parrot.) I love the concept of the series and I feel it is well executed. I cannot wait for the next book already.
I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving an advance reader copy of the book.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun and frothy rom-com from Tawna Fenske. The Juniper Ridge series is such an interesting and bizarre premise, both the former cult compound where the reality show takes place, and the large pack of siblings who now run the intentional community there. This book focuses on middle sister Mari, a psychologist who feels out of place in her own family. She is instantly and mutually attracted to Griffin, the single-dad brewer who just moved in. It seems like things might work out for them, until Mari's professional ethics force her to keep a huge secret from Griffin.

This has all the Fenske characteristics: super hot chemistry between the leads, hilariously over-the-top mishaps, interfering siblings, precocious children (in this case Griffin's tween daughter, Soph), and adorable animals. The African Grey parrot, Leonard, was not my favorite. His interjections are too spot-on and annoying. But I'm also not a big fan of birds, so that probably biased me from the start.

I look forward to the next book!

[April ♥"LOS" ♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this series. The idea of building the community of Juniper Ridge and making it into a reality show is an interesting idea. I love the different characters that make up the cast/towns people.

[Debby · Rating 3 out of 5]

series continues

This is 3.4 stars, good story. Will read the entire series as they are entertaining, especially the parrot! Loved that. Good chemistry between the heroine and hero. Just a nice comfy read.

[Yvette ~ Nose Stuck in a Book · Rating 2 out of 5]

This whole setup was infuriating and the dude was awful. Him not liking her job is the biggest deal, which was just silly.

[Jodi - JodiReadsnListens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tawna Fenske has become one my favorite new authors with the Juniper Ridge Series! Let it Show was fun, steamy and everything I could hope for in a a Single Dad story! I love visiting the Juniper Ridge Compound and catching up with the Judson siblings. Erin Mallon and Jason Clarke narrate this audiobook.

Mari Judson has brought her psychology expertise to the community at Juniper Ridge. Griffin signed on to take part in the show to have a fresh start and run his brewery. He has a twelve year old daughter and is looking to reconnect with her after his divorce. Mari and Griffin has a hilarious first encounter, and then all the sparks and instant attraction goes from there. However, complications do arise and creates friction and tension in this love story!

Jason Clarke and Erin Mallon are fantastic together in this story. Jason portrayal of Griffin's confidence and awkwardness with his twelve year old daughter is spot on. Plus with his female and child character voices, you never have to wonder who is speaking. Erin's performance of Mari, the nerdy, sexy psychologist is amazing! Both narrators kept me captivated the entire time!

Overall, I loved Let it Show! Tawna Fenske has written such a delightful and entertaining story with such memorable characters! There is never a dull moment in Juniper Ridge! You will love this audiobook! I can't wait to see which Judson sibling falls in love next!

[Pauline Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio Review

I've got to say right off the bat, the background story to this humorous romcom takes a bit of getting used to.

A reality TV show, filmed in a former commune, where the successful 'cast' are comminuty members... All sounds a bit, well, unusual.

However, it's a fast paced story that quickly captivates the reader's interest and the unusuality of the setting is easily forgotten.

All the characters, whether main or supporting cast, have quirky qualities that make the reading experience more enjoyable.

There are many laugh out loud as well as OMG moments and the house pet is truly hysterical.

As a new to me author, Tawna Fenske has certainly piqued my interest and I'll be looking out for future releases

[Becky Claxon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This reality show at Juniper Ridge is so interesting. Dr. Mari Judson seems like a loner. She doesn’t realize how attractive and calming she is. I loved that the family thought about having a brewery in their community. Griffin is a hotty and the brew master with a 12 year old daughter, Sophie. I thought is was so interesting that Griffin and Mari are attracted to each other. I know Griffin was a little cautious at first as he doesn’t like psychologists. He feels that his ex wife’s psychologist talked her into divorcing him. Mari tells him that a psychologist never tells a patient what to do, but gets the patient to look at the person’s life to help them see and make a decision about what the person wants. I liked that Mari helps Griffin to communicate with his daughter better. And Sophie and Mari like each other. I enjoyed watching the two get closer. There is also a funny parrot that spouts off at the wrong time. I felt so bad for Mari when she came across a potential problem for her to have a relationship with Griffin as I loved the two together. It was so interesting learning more about Mari and her siblings. I loved the book and strongly encourage you to read it. I was given a copy and voluntarily wrote a review.

[Anelise | 2kidsandagoodbook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audiobook was such an easy listen. Jason Clarke and Erin Mallon did such a great job on the narration they were able to suck me right into the story. I really liked how it showed normalization of therapy and seeking help even to just have someone listen. The premise of the story with all the parts they play in the compound they are living in. Also, how vulnerable Griff was as a person who had gone through a divorce and a single dad wanting to make sure he was a good dad. Marni was put into a tough spot and it really made things interesting but even with that the book had low angst.

[ReadingTilTheBreakOfDawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let it Show is book 2 in the Juniper Ridge series about a group of people living on an old cult compound and filming for a reality TV show. Very Now and relevant, right? This was like the "behind the scenes" of the show and a little of preproduction of it as well. Having not read Tawna Fenske before, you absolutely do not need to read any other books to enjoy and follow along with this one. I never felt like I was confused or I needed to know more. I just jumped right in and enjoyed this story that centers around Mari, the psychologist and Griffin, the single dad/brewer. I listened to it on audio with the amazing Erin Mallon playing Mari and the sexy voice of Jason Clarke as Griffin the divorced brewer of Juniper Ridge. They did an excellent job of capturing their characters qualities and making me believe that they were their characters.

With this being my first Tawna Fenske book, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect, but I knew I loved the narrators and went in with an open mind. If this is the type of book Ms Fenske writes, I'm loving her brand of dry humor and the interaction of all the characters together. She definitely excelled in this humorous and entertaining romcom.
Mari and Griffin meet on set as she is the onset psychologist of the show. Griffin doesn't have the best opinion of therapists after his recent divorce and what they went through in couples counseling, but he seems open to it. I liked how the author included little snippets of therapy sessions before each chapter so we get a tad bit of background on each character. While Mari isn't Griffin's therapist per se, she is around for advice. But a little miscommunication at the beginning gets the story off the ground and had me giggling.
What set this book apart from other single parent books was the great connection Griffin had with his daughter, Soph. I adored them and the way they interacted. It made me a little bit mad at her mother (his ex) and what she did, but I'm sure there's more to that story. And the way Mari and Soph connected so openly was nice too. It was so easy and almost simple. But it never can be THAT simple.

This audiobook rendition of Let it Show was performed wonderfully and I enjoyed the narrators and the characters they played. Jason Clarke really filled the "disgruntled single dad" role and I found him to be ultra sexy. Whether that is the writing or the performance, it was well done. And Erin really hit Mari right on the head. Dry humor, crochet creator, with a sense of feeling left out of her family was all felt in her performance. I adore Erin and the way she becomes her awkward characters and brings them to life. Add in Mari's siblings and Soph and this book had all the makings for something fun and entertaining with laugh out loud moments.

This may be my first Tawna Fenske book, but I don't think it'll be my last. The world she has created in Juniper Ridge seems like lots of fun and she obviously does her research well. I know a bit about brewing so it was interesting to have a characters know so much about different flavors and hops and such. Even the therapist situations seemed to be well thought out and realistic. The story flowed well from beginning to end and all the characters had a purpose. This romcom is one to experience and I highly suggest picking up the audiobook to bring these characters alive. They performed it well!

[Bette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story & Narration🎧 Captivating & Delightful!
Let it Show
Juniper Ridge Romantic Comedies
By: Tawna Fenske
Narrated by: Jason Clark, Erin Mallon

I enjoyed this book immensely, Tawna Fenske is a gifted author with a wonderful writing style and way with words. The story drew me right in, grabbing my attention and captivating it the entire book. I am loving the premise of the series, where siblings bring their own expertise to create a social experiment type reality show built in a former cult compound. I was able to jump in to the series with out feeling lost or like I missed something not having read or listened to the first book, which I plan to do soon since I loved this one so much. This book is Mari Judson and Griffin’s story, Mari Judson is a psychologist working with her siblings on the show, Griffin was hired to run Juniper Ridge’s brewery. After a failed marriage he wanted a fresh start and this was the perfect opportunity for him to do what he loves to do and get his feet back on the ground. His wife, Gabrielle, left him with their daughter, Sophie, to pursue a career in acting and is working on her reality show. Griffin and Mari clicked, I thought they were great together and for each other, plus the chemistry between them was electric. Griffin was awesome with his daughter who was smart beyond her years, I liked how Mari was with her and how well they got along. After Griffin and Mari’s relationship moves to the next level a bomb is dropped which puts Mari in a complicated situation. It turns out his wife was her former patient and she is unable to tell him without her permission. Problem is she is hard to reach and when she does finally hear from her she turns out to be a real piece of work. I loved how everything plays out in this book, the story is cleverly plotted with the perfect balance of drama, humor, angst, heartfelt and emotional moments and some hot romance. Tawna Fenske, thank you for this wonderful story, I enjoyed every minute of it. Loved the bird too!

🎧📚🎧 And for the fabulous narration, Jason Clark and Erin Mallon are awesome portraying the characters, giving each their own voice and personality. Jason Clark played Griffin’s role with perfection, sounding just as I pictured him to sound, Erin Mallon did the same for Mari. Both were great playing the secondary characters, taking each role and making it their own. They set the perfect tone for the story, handled the dialogue with ease and landed the humor flawlessly. You could hear how much heart they put into their work as they captured all of the characters emotions and projected them into their performance. They are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another awesome listen🎧

[Dana McKee NOLA504NERDS · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOLA504NERDS BLOG
Tawna Fenske has built an incredible world in Juniper Ridge. I’d move there in a heartbeat if it were real. Juniper Ridge was formerly a cult commune, but 6 “Judson” siblings from the Hollywood entertainment industry have turned it into an incredible new community. They transformed it, recruited people from different backgrounds, and started a reality TV show slash social experiment. Tawna Fenske knows just how to pull on your heart strings and leave you smiling. While this is the second book, it can easily be read as a stand-alone. Griffin and his teenage daughter Sophie move to Juniper Ridge so Griffin can run the brewery. Mari, one of the 6 siblings, is Juniper’s designated therapist. Griffin and Mari are immediately attracted to each other. Oh, my heart! I absolutely loved watching Mari and Griffin overcome hurdles and past heartache to fall in love. Tawna wrote a beautiful and sweet love story with a unique storyline and well-developed and distinctive characters. Whether you read Let It Show or listen to the audiobook as I did, you won’t be able to put it down. It’s very engaging with witty dialogue and swoon worthy scenes. There’s even a dirty talking parrot named Leonard that will having you laughing out loud. Thank you to Piece of Cake Audiobooks for gifting me this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I can’t wait for more from Juniper Ridge!

 
"Admitting you messed up doesn’t make you dumb or weak. It makes you strong and kind and self-aware.”

The narrators, Erin Mallon and Jason Clark, were perfect as always! They are two of my favorite narrators. Their pitch, tone, comedic timing, and pace brought the story to life. They clearly had so much fun recording this audiobook. Jason embodied the sexy brewer and doting single dad that is Griffin. Erin excelled in embracing Mari’s loving and awkward character. Erin and Jason’s narrating styles really complement each other. They made Mari and Griffin’s interactions [together and with Sophie], and the interactions with Mari and her sisters, so fun and entertaining. I highly recommend the audio version of this book so you can experience Erin and Jason expertly bringing this romcom to life.

5 inappropriate parrot Stars!
NOLA504NERDS BLOG

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

ALC provided courtesy of Piece of Cake Audiobooks

This book was so much fun! I'm an absolute sucker for a single dad story so I knew right off the bat I was going to want this in my library. Griffin and Mari had me laughing and sighing throughout this story. I also really enjoyed getting to revisit Juniper Ridge in this book.

I will say Hollywood/acting stories are not usually my jam-and Juniper Ridge isn't that at all. It's a reality tv show that these six siblings have dreamed up and actually sounds like something I would watch. So that's always fun.

Mari fascinated me in this book. There were so many moments I wanted to shake her! But I 100% understood her inner conflict. I wanted to hug her; she has such a vulnerable side that she tries to hide and close off. She's strong and smarter than she gives herself credit for. I just really enjoyed getting to know her.

Griffin had me swooning almost immediately. I just loved him. He's smart, sexy, and protective of his daughter. Does it get much better than that?! I loved his pursuit of Mari, too. He was the total package for me.

These two have chemistry-whether they want to acknowledge it or not. I enjoyed the banter and flirting between them. I was cheering them on the whole time and love the journey that they took to each other.

Now, I mentioned there are six siblings. They all play a role here but none of them overshadow Griffin and Mari which is impressive given how many of them there are. I smiled getting to see them again-and I wanted to smack a certain character, but I won't go there.

The narration here was great. Jason and Erin complement each other, so switching between voices never felt jarring or weird. I felt they really gave great voice to these characters and brought them off the page and into the world.

This book was a fast listen-but a fun one. This had me smiling and laughing and I'm sure you'll enjoy it, too. I recommend this book!


**This and other reviews featured on our blog, Booked All Night, http://www.BookedAllNightblog.com

[The Rogue Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get ready for some laughter along with some feels and a romance that'll make you ask yourself all sorts of questions!
Book Details:
Book #2 of the Juniper Ridge Series
You don't need to read the first book in the series but definitely recommend you do!
Griffin, single dad, cicerone, brewmaster of Juniper Ridge.
Mari, Clinical Psychologist, researcher/HR director.

Book Review:
🌟 🌟🌟🌟1/2
The story takes place as Mari and Grif are part of a reality show. Mari and her siblings are in charge of this reality show/social experiment in which Griffin and his preteen daughter are participating in.
Grif and Mari feel incredibly attracted to each other and their chemistry is explosive. But there are several issues that threaten their budding relationship. Can they overcome it all?
I definitely enjoyed the twists in this story. It's original, refreshing and you can tell the author has done her research! I cannot emphasize this enough: when writing a story, research will always pay off.
Few authors out there can tackle romantic comedy like Tawna Fenske. The comedic elements are on point:
I found myself laughing out loud several times throughout the book. That almost does not happen when I read a romance!
The themes that we see in this book are family dynamics, divorce, parenthood, challenges to professional ethics, among others.

My only issue is that I felt this book was too short. I wanted to hear more from Soph, and a little more from Mari's sisters. I know we'll see all these characters again throughout the series, but somehow this book felt too short for everything that was going on.
This is an enjoyable story that'll make you feel and definitely **think**, while still having the comedic elements we love in a classic Tawna Fenske book.

** I received an Advance reader copy by the author so I could provide an honest, unbiased review**

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the second in the Juniper Ridge series and this time we have Mari Judson’s story. She is the Psychologist on the Judson siblings reality show Fresh Start in Juniper Ridge and Griffin Walsh is looking for a fresh start. He’s a divorced father of 12 yr old daughter named Sophie. Also each resident brings something to Juniper Ridge community and Griffin is the hired Brewmaster.
Mari finds herself very attracted to Griffin and this is making their sessions a bit unprofessional. Griffin is also interested but doesn’t trust psychologist since he blames them for the demise in his marriage.
They soon become friends, which opens the door for Mari to get to know Sophie. They also become fast friends and Sophie starts to open up to Mari, especially when Mari shares her love for making crocheted animals.
Mari starts letting herself go forward with her feelings for Griffin and he becomes more comfortable with her and start trusting again. But once things start moving in a positive direction, Mari finds out she had a previous client that could hurt her relationship with Griffin.
Griffin has a real passion for his knowledge of brewing beer. As a reader they way they were explained made me want to try some.
The Judson siblings are throughout the book and we continue to learn more about each of them, especially the relationship with Mari & her sisters. This story is a fun read with some comedic relief in the form of Leonard the “foul-mouth” parrot, meeting some of the towns people and some drama with the ex-wife and the big reveal!
I received this book as an ARC for giving an honest review. Once again Tawna delivered and I’m looking forward to visiting Juniper Ridge again.

[Canadian Girl Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

                   

Let It Show is a single dad romantic comedy and the second book in the Juniper Ridge series.
⁣
Griffin has moved to Juniper Ridge with his daughter to attempt to start over after his divorce. He only wants to worry about getting their lives back on track, spending time with the beautiful psychiatrist does not help. Mari feels a strong connection to Griffin but when she learns who he is, she needs to keep her distance but it's not that easy.
⁣
Griffin and Mari have an almost instant connection. Sophie, Griffin's daughter, is great about how she just comments on their relationship without worry. She is a very mature teenager. Leonard the parrot is something else and had me laughing out loud. The ex-wife frustrated me with her games. I can not wait for the next book in this series.
⁣
Jason Clarke and Erin Mallon were great selections for Griffin and Mari and really brought them to life.

*advanced copy requested and honestly reviewed on behalf of Canadian Girl Book Blog*



        Follow Me / Blog * Facebook * Instagram * Twitter * TikTok

[Favey_Listens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let it Show is the second book in the Juniper Ridge Series. Juniper Ridge is an interesting social experiment rolled up in a reality show with good intentions. This book definitely does not disappoint. Griffin is a single dad who needs a fresh start after his divorce. His daughter, Sophie, is adorable. I just love her intelligent sense of humor that brings so much to the story! Unfortunately, one of the side effects from his divorce is an aversion to therapists. Mari is the resident psychologist at Juniper Ridge who has struggled to connect with her family and has a lot riding on the community and her research. They have an immediate connection with a strong attraction, but Mari is reluctantly keeping a secret and Griffin is fighting his aversion to therapists. Ms. Fenske does an excellent job of weaving everything together and finding resolutions that are not cheesy or forced. I really enjoyed this story full of humor, difficult situations, a hilarious parrot with a foul mouth, and people putting their lives back together and finding love while dealing with depression and healing from abandonment issues.

Jason Clarke and Erin Mallon are fantastic together, and a perfect fit with excellent performances for all of the various characters. I’ll admit I was skeptical about the reality TV aspect, but I’m looking forward to seeing how the characters and community evolve over time. I really like how the Author is approaching the community with a firm ethical focus and each family member bringing their strengths to make it successful by recruiting the right people to Juniper Ridge. Some of them will find love, but the goal isn’t drama for the sake of television.

I received an #AdvancedListenerCopy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[LA Loves RomComs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed Let It Show, the second trip back to Juniper Ridge by Tawna Fenske. What a fun, entertaining, interesting romcom with an emphasis on family.

Griffin was blindsided when his wife left him and his amazing daughter behind to pursue her Hollywood career. He's looking for a fresh start when he joins Juniper Ridge as their master brewer. From the minute he meets Mari, he's simply enchanted with her.

Mari is also looking for a fresh start, and following her Hollywood family on their journey to create a TV show about new beginnings seems like the best path forward for her. She does not count on falling for the burly brewer with a serious distrust of therapists, but she can't stay away from him, either.

Tawna Fenske has written Griffin and Mari with such a truly organic and believable connection, and she takes advantage of the extended cast of characters to really give us even more glimpses into their personalities. Griffin is a great dad, and Mari seems like a natural compliment to him in really all areas of his life. They really open up to each other in a way that seems believable and just right.

Narrated by Erin Mallon and Jason Clarke, the audio of Let It Show really enhances the story that Tawna Fenske created. Erin brings both strength and vulnerability to Mari. Jason brings a gruffness, humility and devotion that suits Griffin's single dad character perfectly.

[Nicole ReadingBetweenTheSheets · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Tawna Fenske’s second book in the Juniper Ridge series, Let it Show, is a wonderful continuation of the casting of the characters for the reality television show being filmed as a social experiment at a revitalized old cult compound.

Selecting Griffin, a hot, protective, slightly “bitter”, single dad as the brew master for the compound, nobody expected anything more than beer to brew. Especially with his drama involving his ex-wife and his 12-year old daughter, Sophie, who was a wonderful addition to this storyline…Sophie…not Griffin’s self-centered, crazy ex-wife! He surely doesn’t think highly of the “shrink” world.

“Admitting you messed up doesn’t make you dumb or weak. It makes you strong and kind and self-aware.”

Dr. Mari Judson, psychologist, and one of the Judson family members in charge of this “show”, may be the one who needs her head examined after her introduction to Griffin. Hurdles have to be jumped before anything could possibly progress and there are definitely some patient confidentiality issues, but her feelings toward the single dad are making her question her ethics.

In true Tawna Fenske style…this rom-com is full of humor, dilemmas, heat, family, and then some more humor! Such a GREAT read that will leave you smiling and feeling good (after the painful heartbreak and recovery, of course)! 5 reality TV stars!

[kgagnon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Sweet & Heartfelt Stars!
I had so much fun listening to this sweet, quirky, and heartfelt rom-com! We are back at the planned community/reality TV show, that was created by the Judson siblings, and is set up on an abandoned cult compound in central Oregon. Mari Judson is the community’s resident psychologist who checks up on all the shows residents. She has a hilarious meet cute with the new community brew master, Griffin Walsh, and the sparks fly from the start. He is a single dad, who is looking for a fresh start after his heartbreaking divorce, and his major concern is protecting his 12 year old daughter, Sophie, from the limelight. Mari is a middle child who doesn't feel like she fits in with her outgoing family so she keeps mostly to herself. But Griffin, and his sweet daughter makes her feel things she never expected. As they start to build a relationship, Mari discovers a conflict. She tries to pull back but Griffin is to sweet, sexy, and persuasive to let her go. Mari is in an impossible situation, and is ethically and professionally bound not to divulge this secret to anyone, including Griffin. It took alot for Griffin to trust again, but when his past comes back and secrets are revealed, it will break both their hearts. I am loving this hilarious, sweet and steamy series, and it was brought to life so beautifully by narrators, Jason Clarke, and Erin Mallon. I love both their voices, along with their flawless comedic timing and dynamic voice changes. They made me laugh, cry, and fall in love. They completely pulled me in to this world and I felt like I was right there on the compound with Griffin, Mari, Sophie, and the rest of the Judson Siblings. I had fun listening to this delightfully captivating story and can't wait for more from Juniper Ridge!

[Trish- Late Knight Luna Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun and quirky rom com and I loved everything about it. The series revolves around a community in Oregon that moves into an old cult compound and films it for an upcoming reality TV show. This book in the series focuses around Mari, the community psychiatrist Mari and the new craft beer brewer, Griffin and his daughter Sophie. It can be read as standalone but I will be reading the rest of the series as it comes out.

Mari and Griffin were so relatable as people and I loved that about this story. Mari, the middle sister, always felt unseen and left out. But she’s the glue to the sisters. Her being super smart allowed her to flourish and become successful. Griffin comes with his own baggage after divorcing his wife who left them to try and be an actress. Griffin finds it hard to trust anyone again and is worried about his daughter and how she’s coping. Griffin is a great Dad who put his daughter’s needs above his own. I think my favorite character was Lenard, the African Grey bird. He was hilarious and I want to get a bird as a pet now.

I listened to this story as an ALC from Piece of Cake Audiobooks. Jason Clarke and Erin Mallon were the perfect choices for this story. They brought the quirkiness and personalities of the characters out. I love any book that Jason and Erin narrate together, they compliment each other so well.

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Juniper Ridge series. I HAVE NOT read the first book, and easily enjoyed this one. (You do not *have* to start with book one!) The writing is funny, steamy, and true to how people ACTUALLY interact.
Mari is a psychologist and Griffin is a single dad. Being as there's a lot of professions going on (television aspect, brewer dad, psychologist), it feels like there'd be a lot of jargon and traps to fall into. Tawna is great about researching her characters and then bringing them to people who have no idea what those would entail.
I love that Mari is confident in her job, semi confident in her personal life, and still has flaws. Her interactions with Griffin, his daughter, and her family are exactly what I would have with people around me.
Griffin is complicated in a way most single parents are. He wants a life outside his kid, but she's always his first priority. He hates how his relationship ended but won't harm his daughter to make his ex suffer. He seems like a guy anyone would love and I kept rooting for him and Mari!
Tawna is known for funny characters, a lot of heat, mix in some snafu's... and her recipe is perfect! I keep coming back to her books because they're just that good! Once you finish this one, go find more of hers and tell me I'm wrong.... I'll wait!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, as someone who lives in Oregon not too awfully far from a former compound like the one in this story I am really enjoying the setup for this series! While I'm not big into reality TV I think this is a really fun scenario for a community of interesting and diverse people and their resulting interactions with one another.

I love to drink beer. How could I not enjoy a great romance story with a handsome brewer? Okay, I did enjoy it a lot!! This was a fun read and the opening chapter is one of my favorite meet-cutes that Tawna has written in her books. I was laughing so hard, and re-read it again just to enjoy the great scenario and humor of the meeting.

I hate to drop spoilers, so I'll say that Mari was a great character to read and I loved the detail that was brought into the story regarding her background, and her profession. It was really interesting to read and the way it was written it was easy to understand how conflicting it can be to sometimes be put into a position of trust and confidence. I found her interactions and attraction to Griffin fully entertaining and true to the heart. This was a really fun read and if you especially like a "dad" character, his daughter may end up stealing your heart. She certainly does a great job of stealing the show in this book!