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Wilder Valley #4
Wild Crush
I’ve loved Maeve Wilder my whole life.
She’s never seen me as more than a friend but that’s my fault. By the time I was brave enough to confess my feelings, I was too late.
She met the man she would marry and it wasn’t me. I missed my chance.
Now we’re in our thirties, still the best of friends, and I’ve made peace with the fact my unrequited love will never amount to more than a wild crush. Mostly.
But when her husband walks out—leaving her to raise their three children alone, I’m the one who is there to pick up the pieces.
Each night I fall asleep on her sofa, longing for her to see me as more than a friend. When she does, it changes everything.
My heart belongs to hers, it always has. But when reality comes crashing down, will the life we’ve built over the last few months be enough for her to choose a forever with me?
Wild Crush is a small town, single mom, unrequited love, best friends to lovers, steamy romance in the Wilder Valley series by USA Today Bestselling Author Kacey Shea. This book can be enjoyed as a standalone or readers can start with Wild Hearts.
She’s never seen me as more than a friend but that’s my fault. By the time I was brave enough to confess my feelings, I was too late.
She met the man she would marry and it wasn’t me. I missed my chance.
Now we’re in our thirties, still the best of friends, and I’ve made peace with the fact my unrequited love will never amount to more than a wild crush. Mostly.
But when her husband walks out—leaving her to raise their three children alone, I’m the one who is there to pick up the pieces.
Each night I fall asleep on her sofa, longing for her to see me as more than a friend. When she does, it changes everything.
My heart belongs to hers, it always has. But when reality comes crashing down, will the life we’ve built over the last few months be enough for her to choose a forever with me?
Wild Crush is a small town, single mom, unrequited love, best friends to lovers, steamy romance in the Wilder Valley series by USA Today Bestselling Author Kacey Shea. This book can be enjoyed as a standalone or readers can start with Wild Hearts.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 30, 2024
57 people are currently reading
3532 people want to read
About the author
Kacey Shea
33 books1,553 followersJoin Kacey's newsletter to receive a free book ↦ http://www.subscribepage.com/kaceyshe...
Kacey Shea is a USA Today bestselling author of steamy contemporary romance. She enjoys writing strong and smart heroines, heroes with hearts of gold, and stories that deliver a satisfying, well-earned happily ever after.
When she's not writing you will find her tracking down one of her three children, drinking iced tea by the gallon, or planning her next escape from the Arizona heat.
Kacey enjoys interacting with her fans so please feel free to stalk her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Kacey Shea is a USA Today bestselling author of steamy contemporary romance. She enjoys writing strong and smart heroines, heroes with hearts of gold, and stories that deliver a satisfying, well-earned happily ever after.
When she's not writing you will find her tracking down one of her three children, drinking iced tea by the gallon, or planning her next escape from the Arizona heat.
Kacey enjoys interacting with her fans so please feel free to stalk her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
May 29, 2024
I have been looking to Maeve getting a book since we could tell things were rocky in previous books. And when Maeve finds herself separating from her husband, life starts to brighten for her best friend Rainer who has been in love with her for years.
💛Small town romance
💛Best friends to lovers
💛It’s always been you
💛Cinnamon roll MMC
💛Surprise pregnancy
When Maeve’s husband leaves, Rainer immediately steps in to be THE person for her. He helps keep her together when her life seems to be falling apart.
And during that time, things seemingly switch from best friends to lovers real quick for them. You would have thought that they were together for years based on their chemistry and the domesticity between them.
But all can’t be that easy for them; can it?
Rainer is literal perfection. Everyone deserves a Rainer in their life and I will die on that hill for him. He is one of my favorites from this series.
Now Maeve - I resonated and emphasized with her difficult situation. However, some of her decisions made me want to shake her and ask her what she is thinking?! I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’m going to leave that vague.
Cannot wait to read Jackson’s falling in love next!
💛Small town romance
💛Best friends to lovers
💛It’s always been you
💛Cinnamon roll MMC
💛Surprise pregnancy
When Maeve’s husband leaves, Rainer immediately steps in to be THE person for her. He helps keep her together when her life seems to be falling apart.
And during that time, things seemingly switch from best friends to lovers real quick for them. You would have thought that they were together for years based on their chemistry and the domesticity between them.
But all can’t be that easy for them; can it?
Rainer is literal perfection. Everyone deserves a Rainer in their life and I will die on that hill for him. He is one of my favorites from this series.
Now Maeve - I resonated and emphasized with her difficult situation. However, some of her decisions made me want to shake her and ask her what she is thinking?! I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’m going to leave that vague.
Cannot wait to read Jackson’s falling in love next!
May 31, 2024
Erin Mallon and Robert Hatchet narrate Kacey Shea’s Wild Crush (Wilder Valley #4), a friends-to-lovers, small-town romance. I love friends-to-lovers romances, though perceived unrequited romances are more of a weakness for me. Shea takes your heart on a wonderfully written, heartbreaking, rocky, but ultimately rewarding romantic journey with childhood best friends Rainer and Maeve Wilder. It’s wild to believe how steadfast Rainer’s love and friendship for Maeve is. The novel starts 14 years ago when Maeve is in college, and Rainer is preparing to visit her, then jumps to the present. Rainer’s been in love with her all his adult life and has pined for her but hasn’t told her for fear of losing her friendship. They’ve been friends since the first grade. When she falls in love, ultimately marries, and has children with that man, Rainer believes he’s lost his chance but never stops being her best friend or longing for her. When Rainer comes and stays with Maeve to help her out with the children and take care of her after her husband leaves them, her blinders are finally removed, and she begins to see Rainer as a man and a romantic possibility.
Narrators Mallon and Hatchet complement each other—and Shea’s introspective, emotional, and lively narrative style—and expressively bring her captivating, multilayered novel and fascinating characters to life, drawing me in from the opening scene. Mallon and Hatchet’s voices perfectly fit Maeve, Rainer, and the children. While I love Hatchet’s voices/narration for Rainer, the children, and some secondary characters, I love Mallon’s for Rainer, the children, and all secondary characters—as always. Hatchet and Mallon’s narration differentiates between the characters using accents, dialects, pacing, inflection, and emotion to give them distinct voices that reveal their personalities, quirks, and states of mind.
They terrifically express the characters’ loneliness, fear, anger, happiness, desire, love, and passion for each other. The novel’s tone ranges from humorous to intimate to angsty to intensely emotional to sizzling hot, and Hatchet and Mallon shift between these tones without affecting the story’s pacing. They use their vocal ranges to portray the intimacy between characters and their chemistry, sensations, and moods during the novel’s emotional love scenes.
Shea’s vivid, descriptive, active, down-to-earth, and expressive writing style is easily accessible, effortlessly grabbing hold of your heart and whole attention. She deftly develops her likable, relatable, fallible, messy, and sometimes frustrating characters, making you care about them and their lives. Maeve and Rainer’s love scenes are incredibly emotional and steamy, contributing to evolving their connection, relationship, and burgeoning romance.
I love the closeness of Rainer and Shea’s relationship and how they can and do talk about nearly everything. Unfortunately, the one thing I didn’t like about the novel is how unbalanced their relationship is. We all know one person in a relationship may love the other more. But here, Rainer’s love for Maeve is bottomless. He’s all about her, putting her, her needs, wants, and children first—as a partner should. But when you’re pouring out everything you have into everybody else, you need to be refilled too, and for most of the novel, Maeve wasn’t in a place to be able to do this or see things with enough clarity to realize she might need to do this for him. Look, I get it. If anyone needs this at this point, it’s her, so I don’t begrudge her of this at all. (It’s a general issue about their friendship/relationship.) As she began to heal and could finally “see him” for the first time and see all that he’s done and all that he is to her and her family, she did see the imbalance. But this is after so many years. Nevertheless, I love it when they come together, and I love, love her realization of her feelings and learning to make things more evenly balanced (though I doubt they’ll ever reach that level).
One of my favorite things about the novel is how Shea explores the challenging parts of being married and having young children for whom you are the primary caretaker and are left to do it all on your own with no help from your spouse. Through Maeve, she writes about the emotional, mental, and physical toll that can take on a person on its own. Then add in taking care of the home and sustaining a relationship with your spouse when they are often absent. She’s pushed to her limit when he walks out on her and their children. And, of course, Rainer is there to pick up the pieces and be her rock. He’s a fantastic example of selfless love and what a husband/father/life partner should be. Maeve is blessed to have a friend like him in her life. I love that he’s always willing to be there and love her and her children without asking for or expecting anything in return. He wants her and them to be happy, healthy, and safe.
I jumped into this series well underway. However, it is a stand-alone that’s fine listening to without having read/listened to other books in the series. It made me want to go back and pick up the other books. Funny, emotional, angsty, sweet, sexy, and fast-paced, Wild Crush is an audio listen recommended for readers who like romances with tropes and stories about small-town romance, friends-to-lover, unrequited love, family-centered, parents with children, dirty-talking heroes who fall fast and hard for the heroine, and angsty and steamy romances.
Thanks to author Kacey Shea and The Author Agency for providing an Advanced Listening Copy.
Content warnings:
Narrators Mallon and Hatchet complement each other—and Shea’s introspective, emotional, and lively narrative style—and expressively bring her captivating, multilayered novel and fascinating characters to life, drawing me in from the opening scene. Mallon and Hatchet’s voices perfectly fit Maeve, Rainer, and the children. While I love Hatchet’s voices/narration for Rainer, the children, and some secondary characters, I love Mallon’s for Rainer, the children, and all secondary characters—as always. Hatchet and Mallon’s narration differentiates between the characters using accents, dialects, pacing, inflection, and emotion to give them distinct voices that reveal their personalities, quirks, and states of mind.
They terrifically express the characters’ loneliness, fear, anger, happiness, desire, love, and passion for each other. The novel’s tone ranges from humorous to intimate to angsty to intensely emotional to sizzling hot, and Hatchet and Mallon shift between these tones without affecting the story’s pacing. They use their vocal ranges to portray the intimacy between characters and their chemistry, sensations, and moods during the novel’s emotional love scenes.
Shea’s vivid, descriptive, active, down-to-earth, and expressive writing style is easily accessible, effortlessly grabbing hold of your heart and whole attention. She deftly develops her likable, relatable, fallible, messy, and sometimes frustrating characters, making you care about them and their lives. Maeve and Rainer’s love scenes are incredibly emotional and steamy, contributing to evolving their connection, relationship, and burgeoning romance.
I love the closeness of Rainer and Shea’s relationship and how they can and do talk about nearly everything. Unfortunately, the one thing I didn’t like about the novel is how unbalanced their relationship is. We all know one person in a relationship may love the other more. But here, Rainer’s love for Maeve is bottomless. He’s all about her, putting her, her needs, wants, and children first—as a partner should. But when you’re pouring out everything you have into everybody else, you need to be refilled too, and for most of the novel, Maeve wasn’t in a place to be able to do this or see things with enough clarity to realize she might need to do this for him. Look, I get it. If anyone needs this at this point, it’s her, so I don’t begrudge her of this at all. (It’s a general issue about their friendship/relationship.) As she began to heal and could finally “see him” for the first time and see all that he’s done and all that he is to her and her family, she did see the imbalance. But this is after so many years. Nevertheless, I love it when they come together, and I love, love her realization of her feelings and learning to make things more evenly balanced (though I doubt they’ll ever reach that level).
One of my favorite things about the novel is how Shea explores the challenging parts of being married and having young children for whom you are the primary caretaker and are left to do it all on your own with no help from your spouse. Through Maeve, she writes about the emotional, mental, and physical toll that can take on a person on its own. Then add in taking care of the home and sustaining a relationship with your spouse when they are often absent. She’s pushed to her limit when he walks out on her and their children. And, of course, Rainer is there to pick up the pieces and be her rock. He’s a fantastic example of selfless love and what a husband/father/life partner should be. Maeve is blessed to have a friend like him in her life. I love that he’s always willing to be there and love her and her children without asking for or expecting anything in return. He wants her and them to be happy, healthy, and safe.
I jumped into this series well underway. However, it is a stand-alone that’s fine listening to without having read/listened to other books in the series. It made me want to go back and pick up the other books. Funny, emotional, angsty, sweet, sexy, and fast-paced, Wild Crush is an audio listen recommended for readers who like romances with tropes and stories about small-town romance, friends-to-lover, unrequited love, family-centered, parents with children, dirty-talking heroes who fall fast and hard for the heroine, and angsty and steamy romances.
Thanks to author Kacey Shea and The Author Agency for providing an Advanced Listening Copy.
Content warnings:
May 25, 2024
4⭐️
3🌶️
This is the fourth book in this series so I'm super happy to say it was easy to read as a stand-alone but I'm also very excited to go read the first three!
Reiner is amazing but honestly, he is too understanding if you ask me lol. I would have liked to see him get a little bit angry, nothing crazy, but just enough! However, that's just not him, he's such a good person. He's the guy you call for everything and he's always there for Maeve no matter what. Maeve is so strong but so lost. She needed Alex to leave so that she could come into herself again, and I'm so proud of how her for putting the work in and doing the hard stuff! I don't love her decision making near the end of the book as a romance reader, but I do understand it as a mother! This book is funny, it's emotional, especially if it hits close to home for you, and it's spicy! What more could you ask for ;)
Wild Crush comes out May 30! Pre-order it today!!
3🌶️
This is the fourth book in this series so I'm super happy to say it was easy to read as a stand-alone but I'm also very excited to go read the first three!
Reiner is amazing but honestly, he is too understanding if you ask me lol. I would have liked to see him get a little bit angry, nothing crazy, but just enough! However, that's just not him, he's such a good person. He's the guy you call for everything and he's always there for Maeve no matter what. Maeve is so strong but so lost. She needed Alex to leave so that she could come into herself again, and I'm so proud of how her for putting the work in and doing the hard stuff! I don't love her decision making near the end of the book as a romance reader, but I do understand it as a mother! This book is funny, it's emotional, especially if it hits close to home for you, and it's spicy! What more could you ask for ;)
Wild Crush comes out May 30! Pre-order it today!!
July 4, 2024
sobbed the entire book
Everything was so real and raw about this book. Maeve felt like everything I could relate to. Her emotions and struggles… straight to the core of motherhood. If you want to cry. This one is for you. Because sometimes your person isn’t the person you first dreamed it would be. And that’s okay.
Everything was so real and raw about this book. Maeve felt like everything I could relate to. Her emotions and struggles… straight to the core of motherhood. If you want to cry. This one is for you. Because sometimes your person isn’t the person you first dreamed it would be. And that’s okay.
May 30, 2024
Audio and Ebook review
Wow! I wasn’t expecting this book to be so emotional. Had me in tears in the first few pages which wasn’t so great as I was at the gym . The narration was done so well it brought the story to life. I love how this authors writing is able to convey the despair &hopelessness that Maeve felt. Rainer is a true dream boyfriend and his devotion to Maeve was everything. I loved this book, it really touched a lot of the things I can resonate with at present and it’ll hold a special place in my heart.
Wow! I wasn’t expecting this book to be so emotional. Had me in tears in the first few pages which wasn’t so great as I was at the gym . The narration was done so well it brought the story to life. I love how this authors writing is able to convey the despair &hopelessness that Maeve felt. Rainer is a true dream boyfriend and his devotion to Maeve was everything. I loved this book, it really touched a lot of the things I can resonate with at present and it’ll hold a special place in my heart.
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May 11, 2024I'm the author of Wild Crush, and I can't wait for you to read/listen to this best friends to lovers romance! You can enjoy Maeve's book as a standalone or start with her older brother's HEA in Wild Hearts. Read with KU, listen in audio, or read in print--both special edition and main covers are available.
Book bloggers, booktokers, and bookstagrammers can sign up for an ARC through The Author Agency, and I would love your support on this release.
There's also a giveaway on Goodreads for a signed paperback open to US readers, so don't miss that as well!
Book bloggers, booktokers, and bookstagrammers can sign up for an ARC through The Author Agency, and I would love your support on this release.
There's also a giveaway on Goodreads for a signed paperback open to US readers, so don't miss that as well!
May 23, 2024
★★★. Thank you so much for this ARC! Please know my review will have A LOT of spoilers!
Unrequited, small town, best friends to lovers, single mom all in one. I haven’t read this author yet and I was surprised by how good her writing was. However, I did not love this book.
We have Rainer and Maeve who have been best friends forever and Rainer has always loved Maeve. Years later she’s married to her “love of her life” Alex and has three kids with him. They fight and he leaves and she’s heartbroken. She honestly wants to make it work with Alex. Rainer comes and fixed everything. I felt like she took advantage. I understand she was upset but she had three kids and she just let Rainer do everything.
They finally get together and it was all sex. After they have sex, she tells him that she doesn’t want to sleep in the same bed as him for respect of Alex and she doesn’t want to give her children the wrong idea? Yes, Alex was a bad husband who was never present or helped with the children but still. You were professing your love for him and wanted to make things work too this? How is it respectful of Alex when you were sleeping with Rainer minutes ago? It felt icky reading that and I don’t care that she cheated on Alex. I care that she used Rainer for his body and you can’t convince me otherwise. She doesn’t allow them to have sex in her old bedroom so they sleep together everywhere else.
She becomes pregnant. It’s Alex’s. Rainer steps up and is ready to raise another baby that isn’t biologically his. Don’t worry though, Maeve makes sure he knows this child isn’t his. Alex comes back and apologizes for basically abandoning his family. SHE TAKES HIM BACK. She dumps Rainer for her children which was utter nonsense because it gave off the impression children need to be raised in a 2 person household. They fight constantly yet she won’t leave him? She finds out he cheated and HAS THE AUDACITY TO BE MAD AS IF SHE WASNT BANGING HER BEST FRIEND TWO MINUTES AGO.
Happy ending and all. Rainer definitely deserved better. He slept with some people but admitted after awhile it felt wrong so he hasn’t been with anyone in a while. He saved himself for her literally. She doesn’t deserve him. I don’t care about her. She annoyed me. The kids were cute. Throwing in the pregnancy was stupid and unnecessary.
Only reason for three stars was Rainer and the writing itself was good.
Unrequited, small town, best friends to lovers, single mom all in one. I haven’t read this author yet and I was surprised by how good her writing was. However, I did not love this book.
We have Rainer and Maeve who have been best friends forever and Rainer has always loved Maeve. Years later she’s married to her “love of her life” Alex and has three kids with him. They fight and he leaves and she’s heartbroken. She honestly wants to make it work with Alex. Rainer comes and fixed everything. I felt like she took advantage. I understand she was upset but she had three kids and she just let Rainer do everything.
They finally get together and it was all sex. After they have sex, she tells him that she doesn’t want to sleep in the same bed as him for respect of Alex and she doesn’t want to give her children the wrong idea? Yes, Alex was a bad husband who was never present or helped with the children but still. You were professing your love for him and wanted to make things work too this? How is it respectful of Alex when you were sleeping with Rainer minutes ago? It felt icky reading that and I don’t care that she cheated on Alex. I care that she used Rainer for his body and you can’t convince me otherwise. She doesn’t allow them to have sex in her old bedroom so they sleep together everywhere else.
She becomes pregnant. It’s Alex’s. Rainer steps up and is ready to raise another baby that isn’t biologically his. Don’t worry though, Maeve makes sure he knows this child isn’t his. Alex comes back and apologizes for basically abandoning his family. SHE TAKES HIM BACK. She dumps Rainer for her children which was utter nonsense because it gave off the impression children need to be raised in a 2 person household. They fight constantly yet she won’t leave him? She finds out he cheated and HAS THE AUDACITY TO BE MAD AS IF SHE WASNT BANGING HER BEST FRIEND TWO MINUTES AGO.
Happy ending and all. Rainer definitely deserved better. He slept with some people but admitted after awhile it felt wrong so he hasn’t been with anyone in a while. He saved himself for her literally. She doesn’t deserve him. I don’t care about her. She annoyed me. The kids were cute. Throwing in the pregnancy was stupid and unnecessary.
Only reason for three stars was Rainer and the writing itself was good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2024
Let me start with what I loved about the book. All the stars are here for Rainer and Rainer only. He is an absolute dream. He loved his best friend Maeve since forever. He kept on loving her and doing everything to help her when her husband didn't pay any attention to family. He is an angel. He is protective and caring. He was there not only for Maeve but the kids too. She was all over the place when her husband left. Rainer stepped up and helped her to get her broken pieces back. Only to be left again when her husband came back begging and she found herself to be pregnant with her husband's baby.....
I was just so so disappointed and upset with Maeve. I understood her struggles. She was single handedly carrying the family. She was stressed and depressed with no one to help. Well she does have a big loving family but she is too proud to ask for help. I felt like she was using Rainer. A lot. I tried to get in the same page and Rainer did keep on assuring her that she isn't using her and I tried to put it on her mental health. But when she took Alex back and abandoned Rainer because of the baby..I had it enough. You don't say I love you and everything and just abandon the man for a baby. Rainer wanted to raise the baby together! What is this bsh1t about raising a baby together with the father when the very same father failed to play his role before? And oh the worst part was...she kicking Alex out only when she finds that Alex was cheating. Ummm lady you were sleeping with your best friend too! I agree Alex's cheating started before but what if he didn't cheat? Maeve would continue to play family with him while Rainer die alone? The second part of the story just went downhill for me.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
I was just so so disappointed and upset with Maeve. I understood her struggles. She was single handedly carrying the family. She was stressed and depressed with no one to help. Well she does have a big loving family but she is too proud to ask for help. I felt like she was using Rainer. A lot. I tried to get in the same page and Rainer did keep on assuring her that she isn't using her and I tried to put it on her mental health. But when she took Alex back and abandoned Rainer because of the baby..I had it enough. You don't say I love you and everything and just abandon the man for a baby. Rainer wanted to raise the baby together! What is this bsh1t about raising a baby together with the father when the very same father failed to play his role before? And oh the worst part was...she kicking Alex out only when she finds that Alex was cheating. Ummm lady you were sleeping with your best friend too! I agree Alex's cheating started before but what if he didn't cheat? Maeve would continue to play family with him while Rainer die alone? The second part of the story just went downhill for me.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2024
I am only hidng my review because of a spoiler in the tag, not in the actual review
This was such a cute and fun friends to lovers romance! Maeve just recently separated from her husband. She isn’t sure what she is supposed to do now with her and her kids. Reiner is her best friend who has been in love with her and knows he lost his opportunity to tell her. But with everything Maeve is going through, Reiner steps right up to be someone she can rely on.
Reiner is such a perfect hero and an all around great person. He is so amazing with the kids, and I love how he was supportive of Maeve. And he was not going to miss his chance with her. When things switched from friends to lovers, they really took off and hot steamy real fast! I guess thats the plus side to falling in love with your best friend.
When everything seems great and perfect, there are some surprises thrown our way. I really wasn’t sure how it was going to go down and I was a little angry about it but eventually things go back to exactly how they should be. But in all honesty, the ending brought it from a 5 star listen to a 4 star. I was just really angry and wanted better for Reiner.
This audio was great. I love hearing Robert Hatchet and the way he played out the emotional rollercoaster of Reiner so well. I really felt all the love and all the pain he went through. Erin Mallon is always brilliant and she played a great Maeve and all the trauma she went through.
This was such a cute and fun friends to lovers romance! Maeve just recently separated from her husband. She isn’t sure what she is supposed to do now with her and her kids. Reiner is her best friend who has been in love with her and knows he lost his opportunity to tell her. But with everything Maeve is going through, Reiner steps right up to be someone she can rely on.
Reiner is such a perfect hero and an all around great person. He is so amazing with the kids, and I love how he was supportive of Maeve. And he was not going to miss his chance with her. When things switched from friends to lovers, they really took off and hot steamy real fast! I guess thats the plus side to falling in love with your best friend.
When everything seems great and perfect, there are some surprises thrown our way. I really wasn’t sure how it was going to go down and I was a little angry about it but eventually things go back to exactly how they should be. But in all honesty, the ending brought it from a 5 star listen to a 4 star. I was just really angry and wanted better for Reiner.
This audio was great. I love hearing Robert Hatchet and the way he played out the emotional rollercoaster of Reiner so well. I really felt all the love and all the pain he went through. Erin Mallon is always brilliant and she played a great Maeve and all the trauma she went through.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2024
Rainer and Maeve
I listened to the audio of this book and really liked the narration! The narrators did a great job bringing the story to life and capturing the emotions of the characters.
Out of all of the Wilder Valley books, this one had the most will they or won't they because of the elephant in the book, Alex. It probably didn't help that we spent a few other books coming to like Maeve's husband less and less as time wore on.
There are a few tense moments where we didn't know how Maeve and Rainer would make things work, which definitely adds tension and had me scrambling to finish to see what happens.
I listened to the audio of this book and really liked the narration! The narrators did a great job bringing the story to life and capturing the emotions of the characters.
Out of all of the Wilder Valley books, this one had the most will they or won't they because of the elephant in the book, Alex. It probably didn't help that we spent a few other books coming to like Maeve's husband less and less as time wore on.
There are a few tense moments where we didn't know how Maeve and Rainer would make things work, which definitely adds tension and had me scrambling to finish to see what happens.
June 2, 2024
3.75⭐️
We’re welcomed back to Wilder Valley with Maeve and Rainer’s story. Maeve’s marriage is on the rocks and she’s left raising 3 kids practically by herself. Insert her best friend Rainer to the rescue. Rainer does everything for Maeve. It got to the point where I felt bad for Rainer because he was doing and giving everything and wasn’t getting anything in return.
I get he’s the kind of guy that just helps people without expecting anything in return but I got upset that Maeve wasn’t doing anything. I honestly felt like Rainer deserved better. We didn’t get much of a background on Rainer which would have been nice just to know more about him. Overall I thought this book was okay. Not my favorite of the series but a decent read.
We’re welcomed back to Wilder Valley with Maeve and Rainer’s story. Maeve’s marriage is on the rocks and she’s left raising 3 kids practically by herself. Insert her best friend Rainer to the rescue. Rainer does everything for Maeve. It got to the point where I felt bad for Rainer because he was doing and giving everything and wasn’t getting anything in return.
I get he’s the kind of guy that just helps people without expecting anything in return but I got upset that Maeve wasn’t doing anything. I honestly felt like Rainer deserved better. We didn’t get much of a background on Rainer which would have been nice just to know more about him. Overall I thought this book was okay. Not my favorite of the series but a decent read.
May 21, 2024
This is my first book by this author and I am excited to go back and read the other books in this series.
Maeve’s husband walks out on her and their children. Rainer is her childhood best friend but he has always been in love with her. This was so emotional at times. Maeve really struggles with mom life but Rainer is there for her and he is just so caring and sweet. The audio was so good, Erin Mallon and Robert Hatchet did such a fantastic job.
Maeve’s husband walks out on her and their children. Rainer is her childhood best friend but he has always been in love with her. This was so emotional at times. Maeve really struggles with mom life but Rainer is there for her and he is just so caring and sweet. The audio was so good, Erin Mallon and Robert Hatchet did such a fantastic job.
May 20, 2024
This was my first book of Kacey Shae and a nice quick listen. It never fails that the childhood friends to lovers story envelopes me quickly and has me glued to the book. The plot was very realistic, the main characters Maeve and Rainer super lovable, their friendship so beautiful as Rainer helps her overcome some pretty tough obstacles. He’s a good man, a real hero!
June 16, 2024
Started and finished in one day. Loved it so much! Best friends since childhood to lovers. Rainer is a dream! The ultimate cinnamon roll MMC! I loved Maeve & watching her find herself / stand up for herself. I love the way this family and the friends and this town come around their people. This series has been wonderful & I’m so sad I have to wait for the next book!
May 26, 2024
Single mom, recently made a single mom and in rides her best friend to help her out. This was a slow burn, yet moves at its own speed in a way. This best friend’s to lovers romance gives you a beautiful story, chemistry and a sweet, yet charming H. Rainer is so understanding and he has always been there for Maeve since they were kids. Alex Maeve’s husband is a jerk and I didn’t like his attitude from the beginning. When things go bad between them Rainer helps Maeve with every day tasks and the kids. The whole story was so entertaining and an enjoyable read.
I recommend this book. Told in dual POV.
I recommend this book. Told in dual POV.
May 30, 2024
ALC / ARC review!
Omg! Kacey!! Maeve's book is one I have been waiting for since the start of this series! She tries keeping her brothers in line being the only girls with 4 brothers!!
I just was waiting for Rainer to get his shot for Maeve's heart - he has been her best friend since they were little kids, but he has never tried since she is married with 3 kids.
Things take a turn when trouble comes up between Maeve & her husband. Of course, Rainer steps in & is there for her like he always has been! Now you have to read this book & see what happens!! Soo good!!
You can't go wrong with the book or the audio, both are amazing!!
Omg! Kacey!! Maeve's book is one I have been waiting for since the start of this series! She tries keeping her brothers in line being the only girls with 4 brothers!!
I just was waiting for Rainer to get his shot for Maeve's heart - he has been her best friend since they were little kids, but he has never tried since she is married with 3 kids.
Things take a turn when trouble comes up between Maeve & her husband. Of course, Rainer steps in & is there for her like he always has been! Now you have to read this book & see what happens!! Soo good!!
You can't go wrong with the book or the audio, both are amazing!!
June 4, 2024
Wild Crush (ARC review)
Thank you to Kacey Shea for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Such a beautiful and cute book. I enjoyed it a lot. Rainer and Maeve were made for each other. I loved their chemistry and the need they had for each other. Rainer was head over heels for Maeve for years. She was his everything, and he was the same for her. He was the man that was by her side for everything and the one that was her comfort. Watching Maeve realize and accept her feelings for Rainer meant everything to me. You could feel how much she loved him and how much she needed him. I can say that I wanted them to get together faster than they did. It felt unnecessary to me that it took them so long. Maeve didn't have to give another chance to her no good of a husband when literally Rainer would do everything for her. The bond he shared with her kids and the love he had for them brought tears to my eyes. I truly loved seeing him be her support in such difficult times and prove to her that they were destined to be. For me, Maeve was an incredible character that I was really proud to see make something for herself, and finally getting her happily ever after!
Book by: Kacey Shea
Tropes:
• Small town romance
• Single parent
• Best friends to lovers
• Surprise pregnancy
• He falls first
• Unrequited love
• Forced proximity
My rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Spice level: 1/5 🔥
Thank you to Kacey Shea for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Such a beautiful and cute book. I enjoyed it a lot. Rainer and Maeve were made for each other. I loved their chemistry and the need they had for each other. Rainer was head over heels for Maeve for years. She was his everything, and he was the same for her. He was the man that was by her side for everything and the one that was her comfort. Watching Maeve realize and accept her feelings for Rainer meant everything to me. You could feel how much she loved him and how much she needed him. I can say that I wanted them to get together faster than they did. It felt unnecessary to me that it took them so long. Maeve didn't have to give another chance to her no good of a husband when literally Rainer would do everything for her. The bond he shared with her kids and the love he had for them brought tears to my eyes. I truly loved seeing him be her support in such difficult times and prove to her that they were destined to be. For me, Maeve was an incredible character that I was really proud to see make something for herself, and finally getting her happily ever after!
Book by: Kacey Shea
Tropes:
• Small town romance
• Single parent
• Best friends to lovers
• Surprise pregnancy
• He falls first
• Unrequited love
• Forced proximity
My rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Spice level: 1/5 🔥
May 29, 2024
I enjoyed this book. The connection between the characters is great. I loved the depth their relationship had. The storyline was enjoyable as well. I liked that Rainier had Maeve's back throughout the book. He was a great character.
The narration was fantastic. The narrators really brought the characters to life.
The narration was fantastic. The narrators really brought the characters to life.
June 21, 2024
Possible spoilers🚨
This one started out strong for me but I felt the last 40% or so lost me. The heartbreak and angst and pinning for the first 50%= great. Rainer and Maeve together = amazing, mazel.
Lost me after Alex came back though. That was expected and even Maeve taking him back and all that transpired was expected and made sense. What didn’t make sense was Rainer just taking her back like nothing happened. And Maeve not having to work for it.
I had hoped that Maeve would show any interest in Rainer other than appreciation for what he did for her and that never came. She never once did anything to make HIM feel special or loved; she just accepted his gifts and time and resources. The whole thing ended up feeling very one-sided and like she took advantage (even if he did it because he wanted to).
All of that to say I had hopes this could be a 4 star for me but really pushed it to a 2.5 (rounded to 3).
This one started out strong for me but I felt the last 40% or so lost me. The heartbreak and angst and pinning for the first 50%= great. Rainer and Maeve together = amazing, mazel.
Lost me after Alex came back though. That was expected and even Maeve taking him back and all that transpired was expected and made sense. What didn’t make sense was Rainer just taking her back like nothing happened. And Maeve not having to work for it.
I had hoped that Maeve would show any interest in Rainer other than appreciation for what he did for her and that never came. She never once did anything to make HIM feel special or loved; she just accepted his gifts and time and resources. The whole thing ended up feeling very one-sided and like she took advantage (even if he did it because he wanted to).
All of that to say I had hopes this could be a 4 star for me but really pushed it to a 2.5 (rounded to 3).
May 20, 2024
⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
🔥Best friends to lovers
🔥Small town
🔥He falls first
🔥Cinnamon roll MMC
🔥Surprise pregnancy
Wild Crush is the fourth book in the Wilder Valley series. This series has been hit or miss with me. I loved the first book, was not a huge fan of the second book, and the third book was my favorite of the series to date. I had high hopes for Maeve and Rainer, but this was a miss for me.
This entire story was just rushed, and I really needed Rainer to grow a backbone. I get that he’s been in love with Maeve his entire life, but the way he just acquiesces to her every whim was frustrating and I was embarrassed for him.
🌶️🌶️
🔥Best friends to lovers
🔥Small town
🔥He falls first
🔥Cinnamon roll MMC
🔥Surprise pregnancy
Wild Crush is the fourth book in the Wilder Valley series. This series has been hit or miss with me. I loved the first book, was not a huge fan of the second book, and the third book was my favorite of the series to date. I had high hopes for Maeve and Rainer, but this was a miss for me.
This entire story was just rushed, and I really needed Rainer to grow a backbone. I get that he’s been in love with Maeve his entire life, but the way he just acquiesces to her every whim was frustrating and I was embarrassed for him.
May 24, 2024
🎧 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 🎧
Another outstanding and all-consuming story from Kacey Shea. I’m still fairly new to her books and I am loving and enjoying every book of hers I am reading so far I absolutely loved this book and devoured it in less than a day!
✨ 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀 ✨
💜 Small Town
💛 He Falls First
💜 Childhood Friends
💛 Best-friends-to-Lovers
💜 Single Mom
💛 Unrequited Love
💜 Main Characters in Their 30’s
💛 Surprise Pregnancy
💜 Forced Proximity
💛 Cinnamon Roll Hero
🎧 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀: Erin Mallon & Robert Hatchet
Wild Crush was such an emotional, heartwarming, beautiful love story!
Maeve and Rainer have been best friends for as long as anyone can remember and Rainer has pined for her just as long. However, years later, Maeve fell in love and married the so-called “love of her life” Alex and they went on to start a family and now have three children. Things are less than perfect for them. They fight. A lot. And she was exhausted and heartbroken. After Alex walking out and abandoning her and the children, Rainer is there to support and help her every step of the way and as the best friend and the amazing guy he is, he’s more than willing to stand by her and help her and her children through this rough time. He helps keep her and her children together when her life seems to be falling apart and during that time, with all the time they are spending together, something between the two of them shifts and Maeve starts to see Rainer as more than just a best friend and the fact that they’ve known each other for so long and they are so comfortable, the relationship between them came easy and if you didn’t know any better you would think that they had been together for years.
I’m not going to dive in any deeper. There are a few twists thrown in there that I didn’t see coming.
I loved Maeve, she was an amazing mother. Strong, resilient and kind. I sometimes felt like she leaned on Rainer a little too much and she took advantage of him but she did go through a lot when Alex left and Rainer was always willing to be her shoulder to lean on.
Rainer was a sweetheart. He had a heart of gold and I was completely smitten with him. He was so good with Maeve’s children and automatically stepped up when Maeve and those kids needed a father figure.
When Rainer and Maeve finally take the leap of faith, the chemistry and connection are there and now after years of pining for her, the girl Rainer is in love with is finally seeing him in a different light than just a best friend.
Gah, this book had me all up in my feels. I’m not going to lie, I may have shed a few tears throughout the book. I’m a sucker for a second chance/childhood beat friend-to-lovers romance and this ticked all the right boxes!
Narration was top tier. I’m fairly new to Robert Hatchet’s voice but he seems to be making his mark in the audiobook romance community and I’m not complaining whatsoever. He plays an amazing Rainer, he brought the character to life. Erin Mallon is not so new to me, she is one of my favourite narrators. She delivered Maeve smoothly, portraying her perfectly.
I recommend picking this up. You won’t be disappointed!!
5 STARS!!
Another outstanding and all-consuming story from Kacey Shea. I’m still fairly new to her books and I am loving and enjoying every book of hers I am reading so far I absolutely loved this book and devoured it in less than a day!
✨ 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀 ✨
💜 Small Town
💛 He Falls First
💜 Childhood Friends
💛 Best-friends-to-Lovers
💜 Single Mom
💛 Unrequited Love
💜 Main Characters in Their 30’s
💛 Surprise Pregnancy
💜 Forced Proximity
💛 Cinnamon Roll Hero
🎧 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀: Erin Mallon & Robert Hatchet
Wild Crush was such an emotional, heartwarming, beautiful love story!
Maeve and Rainer have been best friends for as long as anyone can remember and Rainer has pined for her just as long. However, years later, Maeve fell in love and married the so-called “love of her life” Alex and they went on to start a family and now have three children. Things are less than perfect for them. They fight. A lot. And she was exhausted and heartbroken. After Alex walking out and abandoning her and the children, Rainer is there to support and help her every step of the way and as the best friend and the amazing guy he is, he’s more than willing to stand by her and help her and her children through this rough time. He helps keep her and her children together when her life seems to be falling apart and during that time, with all the time they are spending together, something between the two of them shifts and Maeve starts to see Rainer as more than just a best friend and the fact that they’ve known each other for so long and they are so comfortable, the relationship between them came easy and if you didn’t know any better you would think that they had been together for years.
I’m not going to dive in any deeper. There are a few twists thrown in there that I didn’t see coming.
I loved Maeve, she was an amazing mother. Strong, resilient and kind. I sometimes felt like she leaned on Rainer a little too much and she took advantage of him but she did go through a lot when Alex left and Rainer was always willing to be her shoulder to lean on.
Rainer was a sweetheart. He had a heart of gold and I was completely smitten with him. He was so good with Maeve’s children and automatically stepped up when Maeve and those kids needed a father figure.
When Rainer and Maeve finally take the leap of faith, the chemistry and connection are there and now after years of pining for her, the girl Rainer is in love with is finally seeing him in a different light than just a best friend.
Gah, this book had me all up in my feels. I’m not going to lie, I may have shed a few tears throughout the book. I’m a sucker for a second chance/childhood beat friend-to-lovers romance and this ticked all the right boxes!
Narration was top tier. I’m fairly new to Robert Hatchet’s voice but he seems to be making his mark in the audiobook romance community and I’m not complaining whatsoever. He plays an amazing Rainer, he brought the character to life. Erin Mallon is not so new to me, she is one of my favourite narrators. She delivered Maeve smoothly, portraying her perfectly.
I recommend picking this up. You won’t be disappointed!!
5 STARS!!
Read
May 31, 2024🎧Audiobook Review 🎧
Dual Narration by Erin Mallon and Robert Hatchet
Narration 🎤: 5/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I’ve had a really hard time deciding how I feel about this book because I loved it until about 70% when the characters started making choices that really pissed me off, so I chose not to rate it
This is the 4th book in the Wilder Valley series by Kacey Shea and the 2nd one I’ve read. I really loved book 3 and met Maeve in that book, so I was excited to see how her story would turn out.
This is a best friends-to-lovers, single mum small town romance. Maeve and Reiner have been best friends since childhood and Reiner has been in love with her for years. When she went off to college, he finally got the courage to tell her, but by then, she was already dating someone else, who she ended up marrying. So he kept his feelings to himself and they remained best friends. Fast forward 14 years, Maeve is unhappily married with 3 kids. After an argument one day, her husband walks out on her and the kids and Reiner does what best friends do and steps in to help her with the kids. Eventually Maeve starts to see Reiner as more than a friend , and they decide to explore what’s between them.
I’m a sucker for friends-to-lovers so I really ate this up. I loved how Reiner was always there for Maeve and he loved her kids as much as he loved her and they loved him back. This man slept on her couch for weeks, while he had a very comfy bed in his own house, so he could be around to look after her and the kids. He was more of a husband to her than her husband was. He gave her the space to explore who she was outside of being a mother and he supported her dreams like her husband never did. Given what she’d been through in her marriage, he was really patient and gave her the space to move their relationship at her pace. The surprise pregnancy trope in this story has a twist that endeared Reiner to me even more. The characters are also very relatable. As with the last book, this book has really great supportive side characters.
I loved the narration of this book. Robert Hatchet and Erin Mallon were the perfect choices for Rainer and Maeve. They captured the essence of the characters so well and conveyed all the emotions of the characters such that the listened could feel what they were feeling.
Around the 70% mark is where this book lost me. Maeve made a certain decision that really pissed me off. (I actually sent my bestie an 8 minute-long voice note, detailing what pissed me off). I can’t really explain what pissed me off without spoiling it, but let’s just say she acted very stupid and inconsiderate. And then Reiner responded to the situation in a way that made him look like a doormat. It was not an attractive look at all. I finished this book 2 weeks ago, and I’m still pissed off.
That being said, I think you should read other reviews to determine if you want to read this or not. Despite how I feel about the last 30% of the book, I still love the first 70% and definitely want to read the next book.
*I received an early copy from The Author Agency. This is my honest review.
Dual Narration by Erin Mallon and Robert Hatchet
Narration 🎤: 5/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I’ve had a really hard time deciding how I feel about this book because I loved it until about 70% when the characters started making choices that really pissed me off, so I chose not to rate it
This is the 4th book in the Wilder Valley series by Kacey Shea and the 2nd one I’ve read. I really loved book 3 and met Maeve in that book, so I was excited to see how her story would turn out.
This is a best friends-to-lovers, single mum small town romance. Maeve and Reiner have been best friends since childhood and Reiner has been in love with her for years. When she went off to college, he finally got the courage to tell her, but by then, she was already dating someone else, who she ended up marrying. So he kept his feelings to himself and they remained best friends. Fast forward 14 years, Maeve is unhappily married with 3 kids. After an argument one day, her husband walks out on her and the kids and Reiner does what best friends do and steps in to help her with the kids. Eventually Maeve starts to see Reiner as more than a friend , and they decide to explore what’s between them.
I’m a sucker for friends-to-lovers so I really ate this up. I loved how Reiner was always there for Maeve and he loved her kids as much as he loved her and they loved him back. This man slept on her couch for weeks, while he had a very comfy bed in his own house, so he could be around to look after her and the kids. He was more of a husband to her than her husband was. He gave her the space to explore who she was outside of being a mother and he supported her dreams like her husband never did. Given what she’d been through in her marriage, he was really patient and gave her the space to move their relationship at her pace. The surprise pregnancy trope in this story has a twist that endeared Reiner to me even more. The characters are also very relatable. As with the last book, this book has really great supportive side characters.
I loved the narration of this book. Robert Hatchet and Erin Mallon were the perfect choices for Rainer and Maeve. They captured the essence of the characters so well and conveyed all the emotions of the characters such that the listened could feel what they were feeling.
Around the 70% mark is where this book lost me. Maeve made a certain decision that really pissed me off. (I actually sent my bestie an 8 minute-long voice note, detailing what pissed me off). I can’t really explain what pissed me off without spoiling it, but let’s just say she acted very stupid and inconsiderate. And then Reiner responded to the situation in a way that made him look like a doormat. It was not an attractive look at all. I finished this book 2 weeks ago, and I’m still pissed off.
That being said, I think you should read other reviews to determine if you want to read this or not. Despite how I feel about the last 30% of the book, I still love the first 70% and definitely want to read the next book.
*I received an early copy from The Author Agency. This is my honest review.
May 29, 2024
Wonderful Story & Narration🎧Riveting & Heartfelt!
Wild Crush
Wilder Valley
By: Kacey Shea
Narrated by: Erin Mallon, Robert Hatchet
Wilder Valley has become one of my favorite places to spend time in, and the Wilders become some of my favorite characters, so it is great to be back there for another fabulous romance novel, a beautifully heartfelt story of a newly single mom, Maeve Wilder, and her best friend, Rainer who has been her rock and by her side threw thick and thin. Rainer and Maeve have been friends for years, but his feelings morphed into more, and he was ready to tell her such but was too late because she had already met someone, the man she wound up marrying, Adam. Rainer never got over his love for her or moved on with anyone else, it was only her and he was happy to have her in his life as a friend. They are both in their thirties now, she is a mother of three young children and her husband’s job takes him away for days, sometimes weeks at a time and she is struggling at doing it all. Thankfully, she has good friends who help, including Rainer, though she wished her own husband would help more. When he comes home, he expects to be waited on and gets an attitude if otherwise, puts her down and she has finally had enough and lashes out at him for how he treats her. So what does he do? He walks out on her and the kids, leaving her broken and in despair. Rainer is there for her, helps with the kids and the household and gives her time to get through her grief. Rainer is truly a sweetheart, the kind of person we all need in our lives - so thoughtful, considerate, and amazing with the kids.
My heart broke for Maeve, a husband who was not willing to fight for her and their kids, but it was great that she had Rainer and to watch her pick herself up and dust herself off and start living again. I would like to say that this is my favorite book in the series, but that would not be fair to the others since each one is just as amazing as the other and I recommend them all. As always, the writing, plot and world building are fantastic, as are the character growth and development. The story has a perfect balance of drama, a touch of angst, lots of heartfelt emotions, and a meant-to-be romance, years overdue. Kacey Shea, thank you for another wonderful story and emotional rollercoaster ride.
🎧📚🎧 Erin Mallon and Robert Hatchet were an absolute delight to listen to, and they did an exceptional job bringing these characters to life and their portrayal of them was spot on, giving each a voice that was fitting, while grasping every aspect of their personality. Hatchet as Rainer was swoon worthy perfection and Mallon nailed it as Maeve, and both were equally amazing performing the roles of the secondary characters, too. They set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and had you feeling them all. These two make a great narration team, their voices complement each other’s and their performance elevates the already wonderful story to another level. Thank you for another fabulous listen.
Wild Crush
Wilder Valley
By: Kacey Shea
Narrated by: Erin Mallon, Robert Hatchet
Wilder Valley has become one of my favorite places to spend time in, and the Wilders become some of my favorite characters, so it is great to be back there for another fabulous romance novel, a beautifully heartfelt story of a newly single mom, Maeve Wilder, and her best friend, Rainer who has been her rock and by her side threw thick and thin. Rainer and Maeve have been friends for years, but his feelings morphed into more, and he was ready to tell her such but was too late because she had already met someone, the man she wound up marrying, Adam. Rainer never got over his love for her or moved on with anyone else, it was only her and he was happy to have her in his life as a friend. They are both in their thirties now, she is a mother of three young children and her husband’s job takes him away for days, sometimes weeks at a time and she is struggling at doing it all. Thankfully, she has good friends who help, including Rainer, though she wished her own husband would help more. When he comes home, he expects to be waited on and gets an attitude if otherwise, puts her down and she has finally had enough and lashes out at him for how he treats her. So what does he do? He walks out on her and the kids, leaving her broken and in despair. Rainer is there for her, helps with the kids and the household and gives her time to get through her grief. Rainer is truly a sweetheart, the kind of person we all need in our lives - so thoughtful, considerate, and amazing with the kids.
My heart broke for Maeve, a husband who was not willing to fight for her and their kids, but it was great that she had Rainer and to watch her pick herself up and dust herself off and start living again. I would like to say that this is my favorite book in the series, but that would not be fair to the others since each one is just as amazing as the other and I recommend them all. As always, the writing, plot and world building are fantastic, as are the character growth and development. The story has a perfect balance of drama, a touch of angst, lots of heartfelt emotions, and a meant-to-be romance, years overdue. Kacey Shea, thank you for another wonderful story and emotional rollercoaster ride.
🎧📚🎧 Erin Mallon and Robert Hatchet were an absolute delight to listen to, and they did an exceptional job bringing these characters to life and their portrayal of them was spot on, giving each a voice that was fitting, while grasping every aspect of their personality. Hatchet as Rainer was swoon worthy perfection and Mallon nailed it as Maeve, and both were equally amazing performing the roles of the secondary characters, too. They set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and had you feeling them all. These two make a great narration team, their voices complement each other’s and their performance elevates the already wonderful story to another level. Thank you for another fabulous listen.
May 21, 2024
Wild Crush (Wilder Valley) by Kacey Shea is about Maeve, the younger sister of the Wilder brothers, as she navigates the dissolution of her marriage and her best friend Rainer, who helps her survive the fallout. Rainer has nursed his unrequited love for Maeve since high school. When he visits her in college, he finally gets up the courage to reveal his feelings for Maeve, but she introduces him to her college boyfriend, Alex. Alex is the one she later married and has three little ones, ages 5, 2, and a baby under a year old. Despite the passage of time, Rainer still carries a torch for Maeve in his heart and will do anything to help her. They kept their friendship alive, so Rainer is still very involved in Maeve and her children's lives. Alex, Maeve’s husband, drives a truck long distance and is rarely home. Alex seldom helps Maeve with the children or running the household when he is at home. After a massive argument, when Maeve was barely functioning on energy fumes and lacked sleep, she told him to get out, as he only complained and refused to help her. Alex proceeded to pick up his truck keys and walked out the door, never looking back at Maeve nor communicating with her for weeks. Maeve fell apart but had Rainer by her side to help her pick up the pieces of her heart and help with the children until she was strong enough to move forward. As Maeve sloughs through the mess of her marriage, trying to take charge of her life and care for her children, she finds herself in more intimate proximity with Rainer. One night, their lips collide and open up a new perspective of what her life could look like. Without a divorce, Maeve is living between indecisions of moving on. She didn’t know if she should file for a divorce or whether she should remain married for the sake of the children. Wild Crush has surprises and drama, and hearts are broken open and attempting to grow when people stagnate or care for others to the detriment of caring for themselves. Likewise, Rainer has to decide how to proceed with his life if Maeve doesn't choose him if Alex returns. Life, marriage, and caring for children can be messy. Pivotal crossroads that present the characters' decisions in Kacey Shea's Wild Crush mimic real life and reflect evoked emotions where the reader feels what the book portrays in the words. The feelings come to life through the audiobook narrated by Erin Mallon and Robert Hatchet, which helped me to understand the turmoil Rainer felt and the indecisiveness Maeve lived through by attempting to keep Alex in her life for the kids. Kacey Shea's Wild Crush is a delightful read, so grab the tissues and prepare for a wild ride to the beautifully written HEA.
June 1, 2024
🎧AUDIO REVIEW🎧
📚Wild Crush by Kacey Shea
🎤Narrated by Erin Mallon & Robert Hatchet
WILDER VALLEY Book 4
I was excited to listen to Maeve's story. There were glimpses of her life in previous books & things seemed like they were starting to get rocky. In Wild Crush, Maeve finds herself separating from her husband, whose a truck driver & gone most of the time. Her life-long, best friend, Reiner, immediately steps in to help her out with her 3 kids & be there to support her in whatever she needs. Little does Maeve know, but Rainer's been in love with her his whole life.
Maeve:
💜She's the only girl in the Wilder family with 4 very protective brothers
💜She's trying hold everything together at home, life & her marriage while raising & taking care of her 3 small children
💜Best friends with Reiner whose really the best guy in the world
💜Her husband walks out on her after several years of marriage, only later to find out he's been keeping secrets
Reiner:
👢Has been completely in love with Maeve for as long as he can remember
👢Has never dated anyone seriously, in his 30's
👢Missed an opportunity to be with Maeve after they graduated from HS
👢Is determined to make Maeve HIS this time around
After Maeve's husband leaves & Reiner moves in with her to help out, things go from friends to lovers quickly. It's clear to Maeve that she hasn't been the problem all these years in her marriage but rather her husband. She's lost, exhausted & trying to figure out life without a partner to help her. With the help & support of Reiner, she slowly begins to find herself again & plans a future for herself & what she wants it to look like & she wants Reiner in that picture with her.
Quite honestly, Maeve makes some decisions in the book that I didn't agree with but I do think she learns from them & I can certainly understand why she made them being a mother myself. She is strong, resilient & loves her kids so much. In the end, she does find happiness and so does Reiner.
This is an emotional, heartwarming & beautiful love story. The narration that Erin Mallon & Rob Hatchet bring to this story help bring that emotion to life. Mallon is the real star in this audio. Listening to her portray Maeve as an exhausted mother & unsupported wife. You feel for Maeve as she rediscovers herself & tries to find the strength & independence she once had. Mallon is TERRIFIC at evoking all these emotions. Maeve as the exhausted & worn down mother was all too relatable & it just made me fall completely in love with her character. Hatchet always delivers & this time he's fantastic as the steady, unwavering man in Maeve's life. Reiner has basically given up hope of ever claiming Maeve but when his second chance comes around, Hatchet is there to deliver. He's charming, supportive, loving & possessive of Maeve. Determined to make her life a happier one & it's not hard to fall for Reiner & Hatchet helps out in that area, no doubt!
Shea is terrific at writing small-town romance that leaves you feeling warm & fuzzy inside. Shea captures all the things a reader wants & expects from small-town life, characters that feel like friends. Thanks to Kacey Shea and The Author Agency for the advanced listening copy to review. It as truly a pleasure.
All thoughts are my own & honest opinions.
📚Wild Crush by Kacey Shea
🎤Narrated by Erin Mallon & Robert Hatchet
WILDER VALLEY Book 4
I was excited to listen to Maeve's story. There were glimpses of her life in previous books & things seemed like they were starting to get rocky. In Wild Crush, Maeve finds herself separating from her husband, whose a truck driver & gone most of the time. Her life-long, best friend, Reiner, immediately steps in to help her out with her 3 kids & be there to support her in whatever she needs. Little does Maeve know, but Rainer's been in love with her his whole life.
Maeve:
💜She's the only girl in the Wilder family with 4 very protective brothers
💜She's trying hold everything together at home, life & her marriage while raising & taking care of her 3 small children
💜Best friends with Reiner whose really the best guy in the world
💜Her husband walks out on her after several years of marriage, only later to find out he's been keeping secrets
Reiner:
👢Has been completely in love with Maeve for as long as he can remember
👢Has never dated anyone seriously, in his 30's
👢Missed an opportunity to be with Maeve after they graduated from HS
👢Is determined to make Maeve HIS this time around
After Maeve's husband leaves & Reiner moves in with her to help out, things go from friends to lovers quickly. It's clear to Maeve that she hasn't been the problem all these years in her marriage but rather her husband. She's lost, exhausted & trying to figure out life without a partner to help her. With the help & support of Reiner, she slowly begins to find herself again & plans a future for herself & what she wants it to look like & she wants Reiner in that picture with her.
Quite honestly, Maeve makes some decisions in the book that I didn't agree with but I do think she learns from them & I can certainly understand why she made them being a mother myself. She is strong, resilient & loves her kids so much. In the end, she does find happiness and so does Reiner.
This is an emotional, heartwarming & beautiful love story. The narration that Erin Mallon & Rob Hatchet bring to this story help bring that emotion to life. Mallon is the real star in this audio. Listening to her portray Maeve as an exhausted mother & unsupported wife. You feel for Maeve as she rediscovers herself & tries to find the strength & independence she once had. Mallon is TERRIFIC at evoking all these emotions. Maeve as the exhausted & worn down mother was all too relatable & it just made me fall completely in love with her character. Hatchet always delivers & this time he's fantastic as the steady, unwavering man in Maeve's life. Reiner has basically given up hope of ever claiming Maeve but when his second chance comes around, Hatchet is there to deliver. He's charming, supportive, loving & possessive of Maeve. Determined to make her life a happier one & it's not hard to fall for Reiner & Hatchet helps out in that area, no doubt!
Shea is terrific at writing small-town romance that leaves you feeling warm & fuzzy inside. Shea captures all the things a reader wants & expects from small-town life, characters that feel like friends. Thanks to Kacey Shea and The Author Agency for the advanced listening copy to review. It as truly a pleasure.
All thoughts are my own & honest opinions.
June 15, 2024
🎧🎧AUDIOBOOK REVIEW🎧🎧
NARRATION: Well done Erin Mallon & Robert Hatchet.
Now, about this story ...
GAH … THIS.STORY! A fabulous friends to more story!! Until it wasn’t. *sigh* <<< I did not see that coming.
Maeve and Rainer have been friends forever. He’s been in love with Maeve forever. Maeve has never felt anything but friendship love for Rainer. Rainer never once in all the years they’d known each other ever hinted to her of his feelings. Maeve never once in all the years they’d known each other ever once noticed him as more than her friend. <<< sit with that for a second.
The relationship that Maeve has had with her husband has been less than stellar from what is told to as. Now obviously, he needs to be painted in a bad light in order for this story to not just exist, but to also develop properly. That was done perfectly. I felt Maeve’s struggle with her life as it was. It was a terrible existence and one day she stands up for herself and kicks her husband to the curve. This plot-point in the story is not just a disagreement or fight between spouses. This was a get out and divorce papers will soon follow kind of disagreement. This allows for the friends to more journey to begin and flourish and it was emotionally charged and so full of heart and hope that I could do nothing but fall into the abyss of love right along with Maeve & Rainer. Their journey was not going to be easy. There were going to be hurdles and all of them were inherent to the story. There need not be any additional dramatics or third-act shenanigans in order for this story to not only work perfectly, but also to be realistic and relatable. But you know … authors gonna be authors … and the story imploded for me.
So I come back to the story and … I’m not even going to tell you any more because to say the rest of this story made me angry is an understatement. The only thing that got accomplished by the third-act shenanigans at the point in the story that they occurred, was for me to not just lose respect for Maeve as both a woman and a mother, but also the entire story was soured. THE WHOLE THING. Beta readers, do better.
NARRATION: Well done Erin Mallon & Robert Hatchet.
Now, about this story ...
GAH … THIS.STORY! A fabulous friends to more story!! Until it wasn’t. *sigh* <<< I did not see that coming.
Maeve and Rainer have been friends forever. He’s been in love with Maeve forever. Maeve has never felt anything but friendship love for Rainer. Rainer never once in all the years they’d known each other ever hinted to her of his feelings. Maeve never once in all the years they’d known each other ever once noticed him as more than her friend. <<< sit with that for a second.
The relationship that Maeve has had with her husband has been less than stellar from what is told to as. Now obviously, he needs to be painted in a bad light in order for this story to not just exist, but to also develop properly. That was done perfectly. I felt Maeve’s struggle with her life as it was. It was a terrible existence and one day she stands up for herself and kicks her husband to the curve. This plot-point in the story is not just a disagreement or fight between spouses. This was a get out and divorce papers will soon follow kind of disagreement. This allows for the friends to more journey to begin and flourish and it was emotionally charged and so full of heart and hope that I could do nothing but fall into the abyss of love right along with Maeve & Rainer. Their journey was not going to be easy. There were going to be hurdles and all of them were inherent to the story. There need not be any additional dramatics or third-act shenanigans in order for this story to not only work perfectly, but also to be realistic and relatable. But you know … authors gonna be authors … and the story imploded for me.
So I come back to the story and … I’m not even going to tell you any more because to say the rest of this story made me angry is an understatement. The only thing that got accomplished by the third-act shenanigans at the point in the story that they occurred, was for me to not just lose respect for Maeve as both a woman and a mother, but also the entire story was soured. THE WHOLE THING. Beta readers, do better.
July 20, 2024
"Sometimes a wild crush leads to heartache. Sometimes it leads to the best damn decision of your life. There’s no room for regret, not when you have everything you’ve ever wanted."
Please be advised to check your trigger warnings, there are some heavy topics here like grief-loss of a parent, dementia, cheating - not between MC's, and divorce.
"but there have been so many moments in recent years where I would give anything for one more conversation. One more bit of advice. She would know what to do. She always did. I wish I were more like her. I wish I could go back in time and treasure the moments we did have. But all I’m left with are my memories of her and the faded recollection of her voice. “Mama, what do I do? How do we get through this?” I whisper aloud, but no one answers, and I cry myself to sleep."
This book was perfection, I read it in a single day and could not step away from it. Kacey wrote motherhood so transparently. How rewarding and exhausting it is. She also wrote a Josh PERFECTLY. I feel like too many of the parts in this book could have been pulled from my own story, and maybe that's why this is a top read for me this month. But there's so much heart ache here and at the same time there's so much goodness.
Maeve is a wore out mother of three under 5. Her husband Josh is an OT Trucker. Rainer is her best friend and has been her best friend since childhood. Rainer has loved Maeve as long as he can remember, only she never knew. When Maeve's life falls apart Rainer steps in EFFORTLESSLY and helps her pick up the pieces.
“You know, it doesn’t always have to be what makes me happy. Sometimes it can be what you want.” “But what if all I want is for you to be happy?”
There's so much love in this book, and it needs it because there's so much pain too. The weight of motherhood and this season in life where parents are older, and siblings have their own things going on and you just need.... something. Anything. One person to get what you need without you saying it. And Maeve has that in Rainer. It's something I found in my husband, and I wish more people found in their significant others. Because I know more women in relationships with Josh's than Rainer's. And THAT is heartbreaking.
“I want to know what it feels like to fall asleep next to you and wake up with you the next morning. And then I want to do it again, every single night. If you’ll let me.”
Kacey NAILED making me FEEL everything in this book. And THAT is what I want. This book will make me read everything this author puts out. Period. Go read this, now.
Tropes at play here:
👉🏽Childhood Friends to Lovers
👉🏽Small Town
👉🏽Single Mom
👉🏽He's always loved her
Please be advised to check your trigger warnings, there are some heavy topics here like grief-loss of a parent, dementia, cheating - not between MC's, and divorce.
"but there have been so many moments in recent years where I would give anything for one more conversation. One more bit of advice. She would know what to do. She always did. I wish I were more like her. I wish I could go back in time and treasure the moments we did have. But all I’m left with are my memories of her and the faded recollection of her voice. “Mama, what do I do? How do we get through this?” I whisper aloud, but no one answers, and I cry myself to sleep."
This book was perfection, I read it in a single day and could not step away from it. Kacey wrote motherhood so transparently. How rewarding and exhausting it is. She also wrote a Josh PERFECTLY. I feel like too many of the parts in this book could have been pulled from my own story, and maybe that's why this is a top read for me this month. But there's so much heart ache here and at the same time there's so much goodness.
Maeve is a wore out mother of three under 5. Her husband Josh is an OT Trucker. Rainer is her best friend and has been her best friend since childhood. Rainer has loved Maeve as long as he can remember, only she never knew. When Maeve's life falls apart Rainer steps in EFFORTLESSLY and helps her pick up the pieces.
“You know, it doesn’t always have to be what makes me happy. Sometimes it can be what you want.” “But what if all I want is for you to be happy?”
There's so much love in this book, and it needs it because there's so much pain too. The weight of motherhood and this season in life where parents are older, and siblings have their own things going on and you just need.... something. Anything. One person to get what you need without you saying it. And Maeve has that in Rainer. It's something I found in my husband, and I wish more people found in their significant others. Because I know more women in relationships with Josh's than Rainer's. And THAT is heartbreaking.
“I want to know what it feels like to fall asleep next to you and wake up with you the next morning. And then I want to do it again, every single night. If you’ll let me.”
Kacey NAILED making me FEEL everything in this book. And THAT is what I want. This book will make me read everything this author puts out. Period. Go read this, now.
Tropes at play here:
👉🏽Childhood Friends to Lovers
👉🏽Small Town
👉🏽Single Mom
👉🏽He's always loved her
May 30, 2024
You know how sometimes there are books that you just read and others that consume you. This book is one of those books. Some things just resonate on such a deeper level that days later, you are still thinking about them.
I loved this book so much. It is such a beautiful story. This book is one of my favourite books of the year. I just connected with this book so much. I don’t know if it’s because it’s about a single parent. I wasn’t ready for it to end. I wanted more, not because the story wasn’t complete, but just because I loved the characters so much. I even had an entire scene in my mind - paired with a song. So if Kacey is in the mood for a bonus short story or novella, I’m available LOL.
We’ve met Maeve and her family in previous books, so I was super excited for her book, knowing it was going to be a friends-to-lovers, single parent romance. As soon as I started, I was feeling all the emotions - and was quite vocal about it.
The way Maeve and Rainer navigated her becoming a single parent and him supporting her whilst having these romantic feelings that he masked so well was wonderful. The way Rainer was her friend and never had any ulterior motives, he just wanted to be there and support her in any way she needed.
I think it is really interesting how Kacey wrote Rainer because there is that line of where the guy is so perfect and doing everything for the heroine that it’s seen as him being taken advantage of and not having a backbone. But as it is written, you can tell it is just his genuine love for her. And that friendship and wanting to support her and when push comes to shove, he not only sets a boundary but maintains it for his own self. I loved that and thought it was handled brilliantly.
Maeve is trying to figure out who she is, and I think this is the main difference between Alex and Rainer, Alex is very much, you are my wife, a mother, you need to be a homemaker and be happy with that and stifles anything else, whereas Rainer gives her space to figure out who she is outside of those things and supports her as she does.
Rainer is so perfect, I was looking for faults and waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it doesn’t. Kacey said it best. He is the man we all deserve. I especially think it resonates with people who have had a marriage breakdown when everything falls to them in regards to children and things. Children take up so much of your life that you can kind of forget that you’re a whole person as well. Rainer was so intuitive of her needs that he did things without needing to be asked or praised or have acknowledgement of what he’d done.
Erin Mallon and Robert Hatchet performed this book to perfection. Pairing them together was such a fantastic casting choice. We need more of them together.
Erin Mallon in this role was fantastic. You could feel that vulnerability and unsurity that Maeve was experiencing through the performance.
Robert Hatchet was brilliant as Rainer. I think this is my favourite Rob performance to date. The way he performed that longing. Sir! Then there was a scene towards the end where I was in tears. It was such an emotionally charged scene but the performance elevated it and caused such a visceral emotional reaction. Production was brilliant.
Content: Dementia. Possible domestic abuse.
I loved this book so much. It is such a beautiful story. This book is one of my favourite books of the year. I just connected with this book so much. I don’t know if it’s because it’s about a single parent. I wasn’t ready for it to end. I wanted more, not because the story wasn’t complete, but just because I loved the characters so much. I even had an entire scene in my mind - paired with a song. So if Kacey is in the mood for a bonus short story or novella, I’m available LOL.
We’ve met Maeve and her family in previous books, so I was super excited for her book, knowing it was going to be a friends-to-lovers, single parent romance. As soon as I started, I was feeling all the emotions - and was quite vocal about it.
The way Maeve and Rainer navigated her becoming a single parent and him supporting her whilst having these romantic feelings that he masked so well was wonderful. The way Rainer was her friend and never had any ulterior motives, he just wanted to be there and support her in any way she needed.
I think it is really interesting how Kacey wrote Rainer because there is that line of where the guy is so perfect and doing everything for the heroine that it’s seen as him being taken advantage of and not having a backbone. But as it is written, you can tell it is just his genuine love for her. And that friendship and wanting to support her and when push comes to shove, he not only sets a boundary but maintains it for his own self. I loved that and thought it was handled brilliantly.
Maeve is trying to figure out who she is, and I think this is the main difference between Alex and Rainer, Alex is very much, you are my wife, a mother, you need to be a homemaker and be happy with that and stifles anything else, whereas Rainer gives her space to figure out who she is outside of those things and supports her as she does.
Rainer is so perfect, I was looking for faults and waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it doesn’t. Kacey said it best. He is the man we all deserve. I especially think it resonates with people who have had a marriage breakdown when everything falls to them in regards to children and things. Children take up so much of your life that you can kind of forget that you’re a whole person as well. Rainer was so intuitive of her needs that he did things without needing to be asked or praised or have acknowledgement of what he’d done.
Erin Mallon and Robert Hatchet performed this book to perfection. Pairing them together was such a fantastic casting choice. We need more of them together.
Erin Mallon in this role was fantastic. You could feel that vulnerability and unsurity that Maeve was experiencing through the performance.
Robert Hatchet was brilliant as Rainer. I think this is my favourite Rob performance to date. The way he performed that longing. Sir! Then there was a scene towards the end where I was in tears. It was such an emotionally charged scene but the performance elevated it and caused such a visceral emotional reaction. Production was brilliant.
Content: Dementia. Possible domestic abuse.
June 12, 2024
I really loved this book. I could really relate to most of the marital troubles Maeve experienced with Alex. And I could also relate to Maeve’s friendship with her male best friend Rainer and the love the 2 shared for each other. I could also sympathize with trying to be the perfect mom and trying to do it all by yourself all while having a sub par partner who offers no support. After having an argument Maeve’s husband Alex leaves and doesn’t call, text, check on his kids, or return for over a month. It isn’t until Maeve sends him a text to let him know she will be filing for divorce and that she would to discuss some things with him that he returns making empty promises to change and be better and he discovers she is pregnant with their 4th child. While her husband was gone her best friend Rainer was there for her & her kids helping her with whatever it was that she needed all while camping out on the couch. He did everything a partner should do helping with all aspects of housework, child care, child rearing, and allowing Maeve time to recharge. Everything her husband didn’t. Rainer was also very supportive of her dreams & what truly made her happy. Rainer had been in love with Maeve since they were teenagers and had finally decided to tell her when he visited her in college only to learn she was dating Alex and eventually went on to marry him. Over the month that Rainer & Maeve took care of her family as a team she realized the way he treated her was how she always wanted to be treated. She also realized that she had feelings for her best friend. One night they both decided to act on their feelings and their chemistry was off the charts. They decide to date but to take things slow and keep it to themselves because of all the small town gossip. They had just gotten into a rhythm of taking care of the kids and spending quality time with each other when her brother needs Rainer’s help on a cattle drive for 4 days & she works up the courage to text her soon to be ex that she wants a divorce when things take a bizarre turn. Will she take back her ex? Will she stick to her guns and only focus on the conversation of divorce? Will she and Rainer get to really give their relationship a chance? This is the 1st book I’ve read by Kacey Shea but it definitely won’t be the last. I highly recommend this book.
Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice Rating- 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
I was given an ARC of the book and asked to give an honest review of the book. Thank you to Kacey Shea & The Author Agency for the opportunity to review the book.
Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice Rating- 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
I was given an ARC of the book and asked to give an honest review of the book. Thank you to Kacey Shea & The Author Agency for the opportunity to review the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2024
🎙️ADUIO REVIEW 🎙️
💕Small Town
🔥Best Friends to Lovers
💕Single Mom
🔥Unrequited Love
💕Main characters in their 30s.
🔥Surprise Pregnancy
💕Forced Proximity
🔥Cinnamon Roll Hero
💕Childhood Friends
🔥He Falls First
Star: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️
Narrator: Erin Mallon & Robert Hatchet
"Wild Crush" by Kacey Shea is a heartwarming and emotionally rich novel set in the charming small town of Wilder Valley. This standalone romance, part of Shea's Wilder Valley series, centers on Maeve Wilder and her best friend Rainer, whose love for her has remained unspoken for years.
The story is narrated from the perspective of Maeve's best friend, whose enduring love for her forms the crux of the narrative. Despite his deep feelings, he has always respected the boundaries of their friendship, even as Maeve married someone else and started a family. When Maeve's husband unexpectedly leaves, he steps up to support her and her three children, showcasing the depth of his commitment and care.
Kacey Shea excels in portraying the complexities of unrequited love and the nuances of transitioning from friends to lovers. Rainer's internal struggle is palpable, as he balances his unfulfilled longing with the joy of being a crucial part of Maeve's life. This tension adds depth to the narrative, making the reader root for his happiness and the potential for a romantic breakthrough.
Maeve's character is equally compelling, navigating the challenges of single motherhood while rediscovering her own strength and independence. Her journey is one of resilience and growth, and her evolving feelings towards her best friend are depicted with sensitivity and realism.
The slow-burn romance is beautifully paced, allowing for a natural development of their relationship. Their deep bond, built on years of friendship and mutual support, provides a solid foundation for their romantic connection. Kacey Shea's writing captures the small-town atmosphere of Wilder Valley, adding warmth and charm to the story.
"Wild Crush" is a touching exploration of love, friendship, and second chances. Kacey Shea delivers a story that is both tender and uplifting, with well-drawn characters and a satisfying emotional arc. Fans of best friends-to-lovers romances will find much to enjoy in this heartfelt tale.
💕Small Town
🔥Best Friends to Lovers
💕Single Mom
🔥Unrequited Love
💕Main characters in their 30s.
🔥Surprise Pregnancy
💕Forced Proximity
🔥Cinnamon Roll Hero
💕Childhood Friends
🔥He Falls First
Star: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️
Narrator: Erin Mallon & Robert Hatchet
"Wild Crush" by Kacey Shea is a heartwarming and emotionally rich novel set in the charming small town of Wilder Valley. This standalone romance, part of Shea's Wilder Valley series, centers on Maeve Wilder and her best friend Rainer, whose love for her has remained unspoken for years.
The story is narrated from the perspective of Maeve's best friend, whose enduring love for her forms the crux of the narrative. Despite his deep feelings, he has always respected the boundaries of their friendship, even as Maeve married someone else and started a family. When Maeve's husband unexpectedly leaves, he steps up to support her and her three children, showcasing the depth of his commitment and care.
Kacey Shea excels in portraying the complexities of unrequited love and the nuances of transitioning from friends to lovers. Rainer's internal struggle is palpable, as he balances his unfulfilled longing with the joy of being a crucial part of Maeve's life. This tension adds depth to the narrative, making the reader root for his happiness and the potential for a romantic breakthrough.
Maeve's character is equally compelling, navigating the challenges of single motherhood while rediscovering her own strength and independence. Her journey is one of resilience and growth, and her evolving feelings towards her best friend are depicted with sensitivity and realism.
The slow-burn romance is beautifully paced, allowing for a natural development of their relationship. Their deep bond, built on years of friendship and mutual support, provides a solid foundation for their romantic connection. Kacey Shea's writing captures the small-town atmosphere of Wilder Valley, adding warmth and charm to the story.
"Wild Crush" is a touching exploration of love, friendship, and second chances. Kacey Shea delivers a story that is both tender and uplifting, with well-drawn characters and a satisfying emotional arc. Fans of best friends-to-lovers romances will find much to enjoy in this heartfelt tale.
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