Release Me:

The Beckett Brothers #5

by L.A. Gallagher

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Gallagher is THE QUEEN of s3xual-tension-filled page turners! I swear it. Her books get hotter and hotter." –Elodie Hart, author of the booktok bestselling 'Alchemy' series.



What's worse than falling for my best friend's sister?

Falling for his wife...

One deep, stolen conversation at their engagement party, and my heart was ripped from my chest.

Years of craving. Aching. Burning.

I've lost myself in hundreds of women trying to forget her, but every time I close my eyes, it's her face that haunts my darkest fantasies.

Now she's in my club every weekend, her husband's latest betrayal written all over her face.

Watching my best friend destroy the only woman I've ever loved is a special kind of torture.

I'm running out of reasons to keep my distance...

But taking what I want could start a war—and fighting an enemy is one thing, but betraying my best friend is another entirely…



I married the devil's prodigy to save my family's business—but my husband's true talents lie in sabotaging everything he touches—including me.

When he flaunts his latest conquest through his best friend's club, it's the final straw.

I'm done playing the perfect corporate wife.
Done playing by the rules.
Done fighting the heat in Rian Beckett's eyes each time they devour me.

My body aches for his touch, and there’s only so much pain I can take.

It was supposed to be a fling.
But somehow, Rian became my everything.

Which is terrifying because no matter what I do, or where I go... my husband will never release me...



❤️Best friend's wife
❤️Forbidden romance
❤️Billionaire playboy
❤️Reverse age gap
❤️Pining
❤️Forced proximity
❤️Who did this to you?
❤️Touch her and d*e vibes
❤️Blush-inducing steam

Genres: Romance, Forced Proximity, Audiobook, Billionaire Romance, He Falls First, Friends To Lovers, Found Family

340 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2025

Reviews

[Jessica Shaw · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was bored. Skimmed it

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Release Me* by LA Gallagher
Beckett Brothers #5

Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶.5
11 spicy scenes with a hot af obsessed with his woman MMC.

Oh, sweet sweet Rian. We’ve suspected, based on some things he’s said in the previous books, that he loves someone he can’t have. And sure enough, that’s true. We learn it’s Rebeckah. The American wife of his best friend. He loves her, and we slowly start to learn that the feeling is mutual. But, she’s married. She may not love her husband…the marriage was arranged to help each family get a leg up, but she can’t just divorce him. However, it starts to become clear that her husband is abusive. Rian wants to help her, but also, bro, don’t get involved, it won’t end well. He’s a Beckett, though, so he can’t help himself, and when it becomes increasingly clear that she needs out, asap, he steps in. Rebeckah is now staying with him, which his “bestie” has no idea about, and these two start exploring their feelings for each other. Bow chica bow wow style.

We know sh*t will hit the fan at some point, but we are along for the spice in the meantime! And folks, we get a solid 11 scenes of it. With a Beckett brother. Enough said.

Want to know where all the spice takes place?
Find me on Instagram Whereisthespice

[Katie Thayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

Release Me
By LA Gallagher

I glance at the Rolex Oyster clock on the wall—another one of Anthony’s prized possessions—just like me. He takes me out every once in a while. Plays with me occasionally—for his pleasure—never mine, then when he gets bored, he acquires another shiny possession.

“I lose myself in women because the only woman I truly want is already taken.”

‘Sweetheart, it’s been three years, two weeks and four days since we met. Tell me… do you think this thing between us is going to blow over? Or blow up in our faces?’

Rian and Rebekka’s story is so forbidden, which makes it so hot when they give in! Rebekka is trapped in an arranged and loveless marriage. Her husband sees her as a trophy only and will never let her go. Rian is Rebekka’s husband’s best friend and has been in love with Rebekka for years. Rian has to listen to all the story’s of Rebekka’s husband cheating on her, on loyalty to his friend. Until that loyalty isn’t enough anymore and Rebekka and Rian share their feelings for each other. It’s hot, it’s forbidden and it’s so rewarding to see these two finally together and get there happily ever after!

Tropes:
Forbidden
Best Friend’s Wife
Billionaire Playboy
Reverse Age Gap
Forced Proximity
Pining

Spice Starts at: 40%🔥

Spice: 3/4🌶️
Stars: 4/5⭐️

Available on Kindle Unlimited

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been waiting for this book for many books in series now!!! I hated the angst and back and forth so much but when they were FINALLY together I adored them and they're my fave couple with my ogs James and Scarlett- like I predicted before reading this today! Her whole arranged marriage plot was unhinged as well and shocked she didn't try to get out of it and or away from her douche psycho husband sooner. Rian being a manwhore bc he couldn't have her really irritated me too, I hate that trope so much! But obsessed committed Rian was top tier I just wish he was waiting for her entire time instead of being a manwhore🙄🙄🙄. Her saying multiple times it's just a fling or one night was super ridiculous and annoying too and her being guilty I still don't understand when her husband was a cheating POS she didn't actually choose to marry and was forced into it?? Anyways once they're together it's magic but there was way too much angst and drama before then and not enough them happy FINALLYYYYY! I could have done with half the book of them finally happy and together after waiting literally years!!

[Amour.Rebelle.Reads (Bran.d) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Release Me was pure forbidden angst wrapped in velvet and set on fire. Rian and Rebekka’s story is built on years of pining, stolen moments, and the kind of tension that lives in every glance and breath. The emotional weight of loving someone you can’t have was palpable, and once those walls started cracking, there was no stopping the fallout.

CJ Bloom and Robert Hatchet absolutely delivered. CJ brought Rebekka’s vulnerability and quiet strength to life in a way that made every heartbreak hit deeper, while Robert Hatchet gave Rian that perfect mix of controlled intensity and raw, possessive longing. His voice carried that “touch her and burn the world down” energy effortlessly. Plus y’all know I’m a sucker for a Man with an accent 🔥 Together, they turned an already emotional story into something immersive and impossible to pause.

This audiobook is filled with angst, longing, and beautifully painful devotion. If you love forbidden romance, deep pining, and narrators who make you feel every ounce of emotion, Release Me will completely consume you. ❤️‍🔥🎧

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe we finally have Rians book! This one was so well worth it, baby Beckett came through with the goods!

4.5 ⭐️ 3🌶️

I was a bit nervous as the cheating trope is not at all my jam and I’m so easily triggered by it, at halfway through I was so unsure if it was too much for me, but I think it was handled the best it could be and worked out really well for the story

Rian and Rebekka what a beautiful love story that had, definitely of a case of right person wrong time! They couldn’t stay away from each other and their pull was undeniable!

Rebekka’s married to Rians best mate, an absolute wet rag of a man and since it’s an arranged marriage they are locked into it so tightly! Although I found myself yelling just leave him so many times!

The tension and angst was there and was so well worth it when the ‘f**k it’ moment arrives!

Loved the family antics and the girls being absolute queens to Rebekka. The snippets we get of Zara are making me so excited for her story!! Ooh what those boys are going to do when they find out!!! Can’t wait!

[Lawlah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Release Me is beautifully written and emotionally gripping.

I’m usually not a fan of cheating in books or real life, but in this case, I found myself understanding and even supporting it because of what Rebekkah was going through.

The book centers on a forbidden romance between the MMC and his best friend’s wife with a reverse age gap, and it was handled with so much care and depth.

Rebekkah went through so much in this story, and my heart really went out to her. Rian completely won me over. He was patient, kind, and consistent. He loved Rebekkah from the very first moment he saw her and never wavered. I also loved that he helped her find her way out of the marriage without her losing everything she had worked so hard for.

The Beckett siblings were a beautiful touch. I loved how they showed up for Rian and supported him fully.

This is easily my favorite book in the series.

It is a 5 star read and I highly recommend it.

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

~Alc Review~
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶

~Release Me~The Beckett Brothers Series #5~L.A. Gallagher~

~Duet Narration~C.J. Bloom & Robert Hatchet~

~Production~Blue Nose Audio~

"If you were mine, I’d worship you every second of every fucking day for the rest of my life."

♡I freaking devoured this book & Baby Beckett did not disappoint! Rian is a spicy cinnamon roll & might just be my favorite Beckett brother but shhhhh you can't tell the others! Rebekka is so sweet & she deserves nothing but the best after what she went through. I never thought I'd say this but L.A. made me love the "cheating trope" & I'm not even mad. I never want this series to end!

The duet narration for this audiobook was perfection! CJ & Robert both did a phenomenal job bringing this story to life & those accents were top freaking tier!♡

~As Always Happy Reading~

~Thank you L.A. & Blue Nose for this Alc~

[KatReadsRomance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just gets hotter and better!

We’re almost at the end of LA Gallagher’s Beckett Family. All the boys have fallen like bowling pins, with Gallagher throwing down consistent strikes. Nary a gutterball in sight!

Rian is the Baby Beckett Boy, who is known for never taking life seriously. Until he meets Rebbeka. And when she very unhappily marries his best friend, Jonathan, Rian sees him for who he truly is… a selfish man who deliberately treats Bekka terribly.

In her trademark slow burn style, the author weaves her magic and the pulse and the heat ramps up to another Beckett love story for the ages.

Well done and highly addictive! Now it’s little sister Zara Beckett’s turn to fall!

[May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun tropes

This came up on my Facebook and I loved the sound of a husbands best friends romance, because its a little different and I was intrigued how it would play out. I lovsd Rian. Hes flirty, fun and hides behind his humour. Bekka was easy to like and readable.
There was a feeling of predictability with this book, like I always knew what would happen next. So I wish it kept me on my toes more. I think part of it was that we didnt see how much she loved her company, and so rhe stakes never truly felt worth it. If theyd been more along the lines of something that affected her family, or if he had blackmail material over her etc it would have been more interesting to read.
But super fun tropes and good characters.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
3 🌶️

And just like that, I’ve fallen for another Beckett Brother! 😍 Rian Beckett was such a lovely cinnamon roll with a dirty mouth to keep it spicy! 😉🤭 The way that man fell for Rebekka and yearned and pined for her. *swoon* Your heart will be breaking for Rebekka and what she’s been through in her marriage. Get ready to want to throat punch Anthony. 😡 This book will definitely pull on your heart strings, but there’s also sweetness and banter and levity. I loved the relationship between the brothers and the amazing girl gang with the wives/girlfriends! This is definitely one of those books where you just want Rian and Rebekka to get their HEA so much.

What to expect:
Forbidden
Reverse Age Gap
Billionaire
Pining
Best Friend’s Wife
Touch Her & 💀

[Vikkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well Mrs G, I’m so proud to call you my friend. This book is a masterpiece and a complete delight to read. I have started and finished this book in just three hours. This was everything I wanted it to be and more.

Release Me is another masterpiece to add to the @la_gallagher_romance_author shelf. This is brilliant from beginning to end. Rian is another of the Beckett brothers only he has fallen for forbidden territory.

He has a mega crush on his best friend’s WIFE. This book has it all- moments to make you laugh, moments you want to punch the character in question and moments you want to give the m a cwtch.

I have loved Release Me from the first page. This is a cancel all my plans and devour book. Gallagher goes from strength to strength. Each book is better than the last.

This is an absolute must read.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Sophia Hole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Raunchy x

[Saries80 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is fun, steamy, and requires suspension of disbelief. In this installment, billionaire bad boy secretly pines for his besties wife from the minute he meets her at the engagement party. Three years of a hellish marriage and unrequited feelings lead the MMC and FMC to give in to their feelings for each other. Passion and love ensue, and the MMC and his billionaire bad boy brothers find the FMC a way out of her horrible marriage. I did not love that the women from the previous books are treated like vapid trophy wives, albeit beloved by their obsessed husbands who would burn the world for them. Also: the most champagne consumption I have ever read about occurs in this book.

[St3ph1 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I must be in the minority because I just couldn't vibe with this and I think it was mainly because of the FMC. The MMC was perfect.

Rebekka? She was all "Woe me, my husband is cheating on me." But she stayed in that awful situation and wouldn't divorce him all because of her company that she would lose if she were to divorce him. It was such rich people world problems. Like get another job like us peasants or start a new company. But I guess I can't relate because I'm not an heiress 😅.

But the other issue was Rian's mother caught on to their yearning and gave them her blessing. She just begged Rebekka not to string Rian along. But that's exactly what she did when she caught her husband flaunting his mistress. She decided she had enough. Divorce? Noooo... her precious company was on the line despite the fact that Rian's mother said that his siblings would surely help. No, according to Rebekka divorce might be necessary but it wasn't an option. No, instead she decides to use Rian as a fling. 😫

"But while Anthony is parading his PA around Dublin, I may as well have some fun. But this can only ever be a fling. Or I will lose everything."

Literally her train of thought!

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 this book was cute love story. Rian and Rebekka had chemistry from the start not realizing she was his best friend fiance when he first meets her but he was then best man and rian pined over Rebekka for 3 yrs and saw and heard what his best friend was doing to her by cheating. Rian was always looking out for for her and then the sparks really fly

[razzle_dazzle4 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. It was hard for me to get into. It’s gradually got better. I did really like Rian and his bond with his brothers.

[Debra Ludlow-Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the absolute pleasure of listening to the audiobook of Release Me and wow… this story consumed me from start to finish. And I just need to say how much I admire L A Gallagher for this book. She took one of the most emotionally complicated tropes and made it layered, painful and impossible to look away from. As someone who’s obsessed with the Beckett Brothers, this one hit differently for me. The angst, the slow burn, the family dynamics… it all felt so intentional and powerful. Rian and Rebekka’s story felt brave and intense and completely unforgettable. I’m honestly still thinking about them.
This is a forbidden, best friend’s wife romance and it delivers every ounce of angst, tension and emotional turmoil that trope promises.

Rebekka De Courcy is polished, poised and powerful on the outside and composed in every public setting but behind closed doors, her marriage is cold, transactional and painfully lonely. My heart broke for her more times than I can count. She’s not weak. She’s not naïve. She’s trapped and watching her slowly start to want more for herself was incredibly compelling.

And then there’s Rian Beckett. Oh Rian!
Irish bar owner. Charismatic flirt and the ultimate “life of the party” but beneath that easy grin is a man absolutely wrecked by his feelings for the one woman he can never have… his best friend’s wife. The tension between Rian and Rebekka is electric from the very first encounter and it never lets up. Every glance, every accidental touch, every quiet moment in a crowded room had me holding my breath willing them together.

What I loved most is that this isn’t just about lust (though the chemistry is off the charts type we all crave). It’s about loyalty, guilt, longing and emotional restraint. Rian’s internal battle of loving her while trying to remain a loyal friend adds so much depth. And Rebekka’s struggle between duty and desire? Completely heartbreaking.

Now I have to talk about the audiobook because WOW. There’s something about hearing Rian and Rebekka’s voices together in real time that made their connection feel so much more intense. I didn’t just understand their attraction but I felt it. The tension, the restraint, the moments where their voices softened or showed their effect on each other? It gave me chills.
The narrators brought something extra to this story. They didn’t just read it and instead. they embodied Rian and Rebekka. Rian’s voice (Robert Hatchet) carried that confident Irish charm layered with vulnerability when it mattered most. And Rebekka’s narration (CJ Bloom) captured her composure, her quiet desperation and those moments where her guard cracks just enough to let us see the real her. The emotional beats hit harder because of the performance. Certain scenes, especially the quieter, tension heavy ones felt even more intimate in audio.

The pacing was honestly perfect. I found myself listening every single chance I got (in the car, while doing housework, even sitting on my driveway just to finish a chapter). I didn’t want to pause it. It wasn’t just a story being told to me, it felt like I was right there with them.

This book pulled me in and didn’t let go. As a completely unapologetic Beckett Brothers fan, getting Rian’s story felt like a reward. I’ve watched him be the charming, reckless, flirtatious “Baby Beckett” but Release Me shows the man underneath the swagger. The loyalty. The restraint. The way he loves once and never halfway. Seeing him fall slowly, helplessly, devastatingly for Rebekka absolutely wrecked me in the best way. No one does intense, protective, Irish alpha quite like a Beckett, and Rian might just be my favourite yet (don’t tell the others 👀).
This one hits different. The angst is sharper. The longing is deeper. The stakes are higher. Watching a Beckett fall for the one woman he shouldn’t want adds a whole new layer of emotional torture, and I ate up every single second of it. If you’re already obsessed with the Becketts like I am, this book will own you.

[Coree, The Book Devourer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ALC from Blue Nose Audio and I want to thank them for it. This audiobook was narrated in duet by CJ Bloom & Robert Hatchet. This was spectacular, I mean top-notch narration. I mean, the narration was so good. You would never know that Rob wasn’t Irish - phenomenal! CJ Bloom has been on of my favorite female narrators for some time.

Release Me by LA Gallagher is the 5th book in the Beckett Brothers series and while I thought the previous book 4 was my favorite, I think this one has taken over that top spot as my favorite. This book was all the messiness that I didn’t know I needed or wanted but delivered in all the right ways.

What's worse than falling for my best friend's sister? Falling for his wife...

This book follows Rian Beckett and while he may be the baby of the Beckett boy clan, he’s anything but a baby in this book. For years Rian has been able to skate through life devouring every woman he decides he wants and making jokes to get through a life that he loves but wants more from. Just when he thinks he won’t be able to have that that, he meets the most incredible women, Rebekka – the one that could change everything for him. The only problem – she’s about to marry his lifelong best friend, Anthony.

Rian has spent years pining for his best friend’s wife, but does she feel the same? If she does, how ever could they make it work? If they give into what could be something, it could burn down both of their worlds and leave them all, including the Beckett family in ruins. But Rebekka could be the one that Rian would gladly hand the match to and help her set it aflame.

This book was all the angst, pining and spice a girl would want. The way that LA wrote Rian as the MOST giving man had me all in my feels, in all the good ways 😉 Even though I would consider this book a slow burn, when the spice hits it HITS and doesn’t stop. I would most definitely recommend anyone to pick this up on audio – you will NOT be disappointed.

If you like any of the following, this book is for you:

❤️Best friend's wife
❤️Forbidden romance
❤️Billionaire playboy
❤️Reverse age gap
❤️Pining
❤️Forced proximity
❤️Who did this to you?
❤️Touch her and d!e vibes
❤️Steamy spice that will leave you thirsty
❤️Standalone with interlinking characters from a wider series

Rate: 4/5⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Spice: 4/5🌶️🌶️🌶️ 🌶️
Narration Rate: 5/5 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧

For a video review see below:

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.book.devo...

IG: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVGtiBBkS...

Release Me:
L.A. Gallagher

[Jenny Talbot · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALC Review

This series has been a dream, and these last two books have delivered incredible storylines and immaculate performances. Release Me is performed in duet style by CJ Bloom and Robert Hatchet. THIS has been my favorite casting of the series. I particularly love how L.A. Gallagher leans into a messy storyline with dignity…and desperation.

Release Me is the fifth book in the Beckett Brothers series and features the story of billionaire Rian Beckett and his desperate pining for Rebekka (wife of his longtime best friend Austin). Rian was the best man in Rebekka’s wedding, and since Rian and Rebekka’s first meeting, they’ve had a dormant but sizzling chemistry living under the surface. When Rebekka’s husband becomes more blatant about his cheating ways, Rian and Rebekka try to hold fast to the last shreds of restraint they have before they…combust.

CJ’s portrayal of Rebekka is a dream. She’s been living in a loveless arranged marriage for years. CJ immediately made me feel how hollowed out Rebekka’s heart had become; she is merely existing in her marriage. CJ does not dramatize Rebekka’s emotional turmoil, and instead she leans into it in a way many woman can relate. The amount of emotional exhaustion Rebekka has been enveloped in is raw in this performance. There is such a sharp contrast to her role as wife, and the freedom being with Rian allows Rebekka to lean into. CJ’s portrayal of Rebekka is a mosaic of lust, despair, and longing. Absolutely flawless.

Rian Beckett is the baby brother of the family and has been teased as such — Robert matches this energy with an Irish accent that had me mesmerized from the start. Rian is playful and fun, sure, but when he is focused in on Rebekka his possessive and protective side blazes through. Robert had me believing these two were going to make it to the other side — his playful tenderness was in sharp contrast to the absolute dominance he exudes as the tension between Rebekka and her husband reaches its ultimate crescendo.

And speaking of that husband, Rob truly gave me a character to hate. The switch in his performance from Rian to Austin is exactly why the right voice actor can make or break a heavily charged story. Rob had me swooning and swearing.

L.A. Gallagher has really brought her emotional game to this one: any partner subjected to this type of philandering behavior would be feeling and experiencing the gamut of emotions Rebekka encounters. Her entire livelihood has been dependent on this arrangement and she stands to lose substantially. Rian Beckett is the man waiting in the wings. When he swoops in, these two share an intimate bond formed by trust that is truly beautiful.

[C Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Rebecca De Courcy and Rian Beckett. Rian’s best friend is Anthony De Courcy… Rebecca’s husband. Rebecca was pledged by her father into the marriage with Anthony, and it’s a loveless union based purely in business.

Rian felt sparks the first time he laid eyes on Rebecca and had no idea that she was to marry his best friend. He was shaken and depressed once he found out that the only woman he’s ever believed he could love was pledged to his best friend. He backed off, but he’s never gotten over her.

Fast forward a couple years and Rebecca and Anthony’s marriage is a complete sham. They despise one another and Anthony has had multiple very open affairs flaunting them in her face. He has failed her in every conceivable way and spends no time with her at all other than business affairs.

Rebecca is miserable and every time she sees Rian it just solidifies they had something unique between them and it deepens her sorrow. As Anthony leaves her alone more and more the Beckett family welcomes her with open arms and opens up opportunities for her to be with Rian. Eventually they both give in to their desires. Yes. She commits adultery…

I’m definitely not a fan of adulterous actions and find the reasoning weak in this novel. Based on the prenuptial agreement prior to marriage, Rebecca would be left with nothing and she fears that and the rage Anthony would bring toward her and the Becketts. But Rian and his family figure out a way to get her out of the marriage and permanently into Rian’s bed. I forgive the author the cheating aspect of the story because I enjoyed it and believe her husband was truly irredeemable. But… the ending of the story was awful. There really was no ending. It ended abruptly with a sexual encounter and no mention of a HEA. Hint to authors and publishers…. I don’t want nor should I expect to have to go to a separate “bonus epilogue” to wrap up the ending of a story I’ve already paid for. It should be a chapter in the book. 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Kristy aka Brooksie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you unexpectedly meet the love of your life but find out she is marrying your longtime best friend, and you are the bestman at their wedding, what do you do? Sit back, suffer, and pine over her for 3 years while you watch your friend not appreciate the goddess he was so lucky to marry, and stay single because no other woman can compare.

Each time Rian and Rebekka see each other, there is a mutual longing, but they know nothing can happen. Not with the ironclad contract she and her husband signed when they got married. If either initiates a divorce, one of them will lose everything. When he makes it clear that the vows of marriage mean nothing while having numerous affairs and treating Rebekka like garbage, both she and Rian are tired of it and slowly, dangerously get closer. Giving in to their longtime temptations could ruin them both, but are they willing to lose it all to be together once and for all? 

❤️Love at first sight
❤️Forbidden romance
❤️Best friend's wife
❤️Reverse age gap
❤️3 Years of Pining
❤️Billionaire Playboy
❤️Contract Loveless Marriage
❤️Forced proximity
❤️Open Door Spice

This is my favorite of the Beckett brothers' books so far. Baby Beckett is finally growing up and taking what he wants, giving zero fecks about the outcome. This slow-burning romance is complicated, sad, frustrating, funny, sweet, and satisfying.

This review is of the audiobook that is not posted here at the time of the review. The duet narration was fantastic and worked well for these characters. Another homerun audiobook produced by Bluenose Audio. Thanks to them for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. There is also a bonus epilogue on their Bluenose App of this and the previous Beckett boys' stories. A little extra peek into the couple's HEA. 

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Release Me by L. A. Gallagher is a masterful exploration of complex emotions and forbidden desires, making it a standout in the realm of contemporary romance. The narrative intricately weaves the lives of Rebekka De Courcy and Rian Beckett, creating a tapestry of tension and longing that grips the reader from the first page to the last. Rebekka's poised exterior masks a life of cold detachment within her marriage, evoking deep empathy as she yearns for something more fulfilling. On the other hand, Rian Beckett, with his charming exterior and inner turmoil, embodies the quintessential forbidden love interest, caught in a heart-wrenching predicament of unrequited love. The chemistry between them crackles with intensity, making every interaction charged with unspoken emotions. Gallagher’s ability to delve into themes of loyalty, guilt, and emotional restraint adds layers of complexity to the narrative, leaving readers contemplating the difficult choices between duty and desire. Ultimately, Release Me is not just a story of passion but a poignant reflection on the courage it takes to pursue true happiness, making it an unforgettable read.
The performances of CJ Bloom and Robert Hatchet in their respective roles truly enhanced the storytelling experience. CJ’s portrayal of Rebekka was nuanced, capturing the delicate balance between vulnerability and resilience, which allowed audiences to feel every emotional upheaval more profoundly. Meanwhile, Robert’s depiction of Rian was equally compelling, with a masterful blend of intensity and yearning that communicated a fierce protectiveness. His ability to convey a palpable sense of devotion with just his voice added an extra layer of depth to the character. Together, their dynamic brought the narrative to life, creating an immersive experience that captivated listeners and kept them engaged from start to finish.

[Janelle Sequin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is forbidden romance at its most ruthless.

Falling for your best friend’s wife isn’t just messy — it’s nuclear. And this book leans all the way into that emotional destruction. The years of pining. The stolen looks. The loyalty constantly at war with desire. Every interaction between Rian and Rebekka feels like a line being drawn… and then dangerously stepped over.

Rian’s devotion is obsessive in that quiet, simmering way. He’s loved her in silence for years, and watching him lose control as her marriage unravels? Painfully addictive. That protective, “touch her and it’s over” energy hits hard.

Rebekka’s arc is just as powerful. Trapped in a marriage built on obligation and betrayal, she slowly stops playing the perfect wife and starts choosing herself. Her strength builds with every chapter, and when she finally gives in to what she wants? The payoff is intense.

The angst is heavy.
The tension is constant.
The steam is blush-inducing.
And the emotional fallout? Worth it.

🎧 Narration by CJ Bloom & Robert Hatchet

CJ Bloom delivers Rebekka’s vulnerability beautifully. You can hear the exhaustion, the restraint, and then the awakening. She makes every conflicted moment feel real and raw.

Robert Hatchet absolutely nails Rian’s controlled obsession. His voice carries that low, restrained intensity — like he’s holding himself back by a thread. When the protective side comes out? Chills.

Together, their chemistry elevates everything. The longing feels deeper. The tension feels sharper. The emotional moments hit harder. This is one of those audiobooks where the narrators don’t just read the story — they become it.

If you love:
• Best friend’s wife
• Reverse age gap
• Billionaire playboy who falls hardest
• Years of pining
• High-stakes forbidden romance
• Protective, possessive hero energy

This one will absolutely consume you.

[shanelle maree · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝕒 𝕦 𝕕 𝕚 𝕠 𝕣 𝕖 𝕔 & 𝕣 𝕖 𝕧 𝕚 𝕖 𝕨

🌟:4 🌶️:2.5 🎧:5

I’m so in love with this series, and I’ve been looking forward to Rian’s book to come to audio since like forever!! It’s here, and it was BEAUTIFUL. 😩🥹

I knew there was going to be some sort of forbidden element to his book, but I was not prepared for it to be his best friend‘s wife! I LOVED IT!! And to be completely honest, I’m a huge fan of the cheating trope (in real actual life, no one deserves to get cheated on, but her garbage husband is the exception), so I already knew that this was gonna be a hit for me. 😍

This was filled with angst, years long pining, and chemistry that literally choked me. 🥵

Rian’s best friend, Anthony, who’s married to Rebekka, is a grade A D-bag. He hasn’t been faithful to her in over the three years that they’ve been married, their marriage was one of an arrangement and not of love, and her POS husband flaunts his flings in front of her and doesn’t give two flying 💩 about her feelings, or really just her in general. ENTER RIAN. This man has been in love with his best friend’s wife for years, since the day he laid eyes on her. He’s been pining for her hard… and he finally decides that he wants to show Rebekka the way that she’s meant to be loved.

Rian loves Rebekka so fiercely and obsessively, and I adored these two so much. The tension and chemistry between them was so thick, you couldn’t cut it with a knife. I gobbled this up in one sitting, and left no crumbs. 😌

Robert Hatchet & CJ Bloom did the narration for Arian and Rebekka, and let me tell you.. they were INCREDIBLE together. They performed in duet, and it was perfection. You couldn’t cut feel the tension and the emotions and their narration took this book to a whole other level. I honestly just can’t recommend this series enough, and you have to them on audio. They’re all CHEF’S FRICKIN’ KISS!! 💋

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Release Me by LA Gallagher is book 5 in the Beckett Brothers series and features Rian Beckett, the youngest of the ultra-wealthy Dublin-based brothers. Rian is the one who’s rarely taken seriously and is the one least likely to settle down. Ever. But Rian has a secret that explains why he’s never seen with the same woman twice – he’s already fallen in love, years ago. With his best friend’s wife.
Normally I avoid books with cheating, but having read the previous books in the series, I was fairly confident that LA Gallagher wouldn’t let me down, and she presented Rebekka, an FMC who’s married to an absolute a**hole. The only problem I foresaw at first was how to reconcile Rian being best friends with an awful human being, but she managed it quite nicely. And to be fair to Rian and Rebekka, they don’t just fall into bed together just because her husband is a serial cheater – no, it’s a nice, slow burn as they do their best to pretend their mutual attraction is something they can just ignore. Luckily for us readers, they can’t pretend it doesn’t exist forever.

As usual, this book is wonderfully spicy but full of characters you genuinely like and would love to have brunch with on the weekends to get all the tea. This is a fabulous, fun, and sexy read that’ll leave you not wanting to leave the gilded world of the Beckett family – if you read this one first (which it is possible to do), then you’ll definitely want to go back and the read the others so you can be in on how the other brothers met their matches.

[Imperfect.reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

LA Gallagher is a new author to me. I just jumped right in with book five and I had no issues with understanding the previous plots, got a good grasp of all the side characters and really enjoyed the book with no issues. I’m definitely going to go back and start with book one because I need more Beckett Brothers in my life. That being said, I'm an extreme fan of the reverse age gap trope. It's one of my favorites. The pining is top tier and angst between both MMCs is just incredible. I enjoyed this one tremendously.

Rian is a billionaire playboy obsessed with his best friend's wife since the day he met her. He literally counts the days “It’s been three years, two weeks and four days since we met!”

I felt so many different emotions for Rebekkah. She gets put through the ringer by people that are supposed to be close to her. Rian comes in and becomes the rock that she didn’t realize she needed to get her confidence back and to stand up for herself he and his family show her its okay to demand to be treated with respect.

The audio is narrated in duet by CJ Bloom and Robert Hatchet and it was just phenomenal. They have such chemistry together bringing out Rian and Rebekkah. CJ narrates with so much conviction in her voice she makes you feel all the emotions she’s going through as Rebekkah. Robert Hatchet has an Irish accent and it is dynamite, utter perfection in my ears.

If you love
❤️Forbidden
❤️Reverse Age Gap
❤️Billionaire
❤️Pining
❤️Best Friend’s Wife
❤️Touch Her & Perish

[Erika Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baby Beckett Ain’t A Baby After All

Book 5 in the Beckett Brothers series came in hitting hard!! Knowing it was love at first sight for them both, but they were meeting at Rebekka’s engagement party for her arranged marriage almost took me out.

Rian has been utterly obsessed with Rebekka from the moment he laid eyes on her. One significant problem - she was married to his oldest and best friend Anthony. He spends 3+ years loving her from afar and always staying far enough away to ensure he doesn’t cause trouble for Bekka nor with Anthony and his family.

Rebekka’s father is a gambling alcoholic, and it is in so much debt that he arranges this marriage with Anthony in order to get out of debt. For 3+ years she’s been in a loveless, sexless, affection-less marriage with a man who can’t seem to keep it in his pants. Divorce is not an option for her due to a clause in the marriage contract, so she stays knowing nothing will change.

Until it does….And let me tell you it’s so good when it does!!! The chemistry between the two MCs, the relationship development, and the love they have for each other is off the charts! This book will keep you on your toes for sure! Rian is definitely one of my favorite characters! We all need someone so utterly obsessed with us that they’d risk everything to have and keep you!

Sexy, fun, playful, heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once.

5.0 🌟
3.0 🌶️

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baby Beckett aka Rian is the last brother to fall, and when I tell you this man falls hard… he falls hard. And not just for anyone, but for his childhood best friend’s wife, Rebecca. The tension? The history? The emotional weight of it all? We’ve seen it teased in earlier books, but just didn't know for who!

Rian is deeply protective, fiercely loyal, and completely devoted once he lets himself cross that line. Watching this deeper, more vulnerable side of him unfold made me love him even more. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep Rebecca safe and that unwavering devotion? Absolute swoon.

Rebecca is trapped in a loveless marriage, which is a commitment she made and intends to honor for the sake of her family. She isn’t weak. She’s strong, resilient, and determined to protect the people she loves, even at her own expense. Her internal conflict felt real and layered, which made every charged moment between her and Rian hit that much harder.

And the chemistry? Off. The. Charts. The slow burn of something that’s always been there simmering under the surface made this one impossible to pause.

Narration: Robert Hatchett absolutely nailed Rian. His jovial, charismatic energy shines through, but he also captures that protective intensity and emotional depth when it counts. You can feel the shift when Rian goes from playful to serious.

CJ Bloom brings such clarity and quiet strength to Rebecca. Her smooth, soft cadence gives Rebecca this grounded resilience that perfectly balances Rian’s intensity. Together, their performances elevate the emotional tension and make the connection feel completely authentic.

This one delivered angst, loyalty, forbidden tension, who loves with his whole Freaking chest. 5 stars without hesitation. If you’ve been waiting for Baby Beckett’s story it’s worth every second.

[TalkbookswithKaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

This book was HOT ASF!!!

We start with the typical contract marriage setup. Miserable husband. Loveless. Sexless. Cold. The emotional drought was real.

But what made this one different?

Baby Beckett. Also known as Rian.

He loved her from afar. And not just any afar… his best friend’s wife. So obviously complicated. Messy. High stakes. Delicious tension.

What I loved most is that it did NOT jump into insta-love. It was layered. It was him slowly discovering who he is. Realizing what he feels. Wrestling with loyalty. Wrestling with desire. Wrestling with himself.

That growth? That journey? That made it hot.

And the FMC? Not a simpering crybaby. Not weak. Not waiting to be rescued.

She is a CEO. She runs her company. She has her own life. Her own power. Her fear wasn’t about insecurity. It was about acceptance. About how the world would see them. About how his family would react.

And speaking of his family…

The way they protected him but still reassured her that if it’s real, they are 100 percent behind them?

Beautiful. Actually beautiful.

And let’s talk audio.

The duet narration delivered. Baby Beckett’s accent? Pretty incredible. Deep. Controlled. Protective.

The way he prioritized her safety first. Always. Even at his own cost.

Hot. Emotional. Protective energy. Growth.