Starting this review off with a simple reading flow chart. Have you read “Speak” by Ruby M. Darling? If yes, then please continue to read my review. If no, run yourself over to Audible, listen to the pure perfection that is “Speak”, and then come back and see me.
Book two of the tongueless duet is performed in duet by Heather Firth and Joe Arden. The audiobook is 15.5 hours of everything we love and come to expect out of Rayne-Moore University: secret society, sex, and a salacious underworld of sin. And at the center of it all, a beautiful Raven waiting for her time to soar.
Heather’s performance as Raven is impeccable and raw. In book one, we were privy to Raven’s innermost thoughts by way of her POV chapters and communication through sign language was limited. This story picks up with our avenger FMC retraining her vocal cords by way of therapy and at home practice. What is significant to note is that Raven’s motivation to speak has nothing to do with revealing her secrets, and everything to do with proclaiming her love for Jonas, Damon and Maverick.
In this book, Heather has revealed how much Raven has persevered and her attempts to express herself are filled with emotion and grit. I cannot tell you how many satisfied tears came to the surface for me, as a listener, knowing this character was given the care and patience she deserves. Raven is still badass, and her vulnerability and pure honesty are an halo that surrounds her darkness. Heather made sure she shone brightly.
Joe Arden delivers a multi-cast of men who are singularly unique and collectively powerful. In book two, we pick up with Maverick struggling to come to grips with his own morality and his love for Raven…and his budding sense that this unit the four of them have created is the closest thing to family he’s ever had. Jonas continues to be a source of unwavering support in a way that is chaotic yet completely tuned into Raven’s every need. And Damon Archer, well, Damon holds everything together and still has a surprise or two up his sleeve.
Joe’s acting for each character is consistently delicious, not missing a beat from book one. These men are well suited for his voice, and Texas native Maverick is still in the top spot for me. Damon felt more precise and demanding in a way that suited the part French doctor, and Jonas…I felt myself smiling at each infectious line. The biggest and most paramount moment in the story, for me, were two POV chapters from secondary characters who, if you’ve read “Speak”, then you know a different character POV is their curtain call. Gritty. Guttural. Poignant. Joe gave their last breath with every ounce of his being and left me feeling breathless.
This series is woven with such an intricate plot while maintaining a spicy MMFM romance. There’s a romantic plot twist in this that had me kicking my feet in delight, and I cannot wait for the world to hear it in audio.
ALC is complete! You guys, this is a G-Dang Masterpiece!!! I can not rave about this enough. 5 stars, 5spice. Raven is back to complete her revenge. Damon and Jonas by her side. Will Maverick come around? Will we find out who the A name is? Will she take down the syndicate? My goodness this was sooo amazing!!! Like I said before I read these a while back but listening to them was like a whole new experience. I cried, I laughed, I attacked my husband 🤣🤣 this was absolutely top notch. Joe Arden and heather firth absolutely killed it. The emotional ride, the spice.. all of it was absolutely unforgettable. I will absolutely be listening again. This will be something I definitely revisit and I don’t really re read books. If you haven’t read about Raven and her guys please do. And if you loved Speak, please RUN to grab Stutter. It’s out July 15. You do not want to miss this!! @authorrubymdarling @therealjoearden @heatherfirthnarrator @bluenoseaudio #stutter #tonguelessduet #rubydarling #rubymdarling #rubymdarlingstreetteam #whychoose #femaleragebooks #studentteacherromance #doctorpatientrelationship #romancebook #darkromancebooks
Wow wow wow!! So much to unpack!! I absolutely love this author and this duet. I can’t wait to read the other books she has planned. The men were fire and the steam was unbelievable!! The plot was so good. There were some grammar errors but it didn’t take away from any of the story. The MM took me by surprise because I wasn’t really expecting it. I like that while it was there it didn’t come until later and didn’t take away from the FMC. I could have done without it but it wasn’t bad. I just get burned out on MM in every RH I read. It gets to be a bit much. Other than that I absolutely loved this series. Definitely a must read for a great plot and spice.
Ummm excuse you Bluenose Audio for the freaking KICK ASS AUDIO!! I loved this book before the audio but I love it even more.
Raven gets her revenge on every one possible and then some!! The guys get their woman and help her the entire way. They will burn the world just to get her back or take out who ever is in their way.
Ruby wrote an amazing story for Raven and her men! Hands down one of my top reads this year!!
This is my ALC: Stutter is the gripping continuation of Ruby Darling’s Speak, diving even deeper into the dark academia world of secrets, danger, and tangled hearts. In this why choose romance, relationships are tested, truths unravel, and loyalties are pushed to the brink. Will Maverick truly be on Raven’s side as she carries out her mission? What’s brewing beneath the surface with Jonas and Damon? The suspense is absolutely relentless, and just when you think you can breathe—the ending hits like a punch to the gut. My stomach was in knots. The audiobook performance deserves its own standing ovation. Heather Firth as Raven delivers a standout performance. Her portrayal of Raven’s stutter wasn’t just convincing—it was powerful, raw, and added so much emotional depth. She seamlessly transitioned between narrator and character, bringing Raven’s perspective vividly to life. Joe Arden perfectly complemented her performance, voicing the trio of male leads with precision and nuance. From Maverick Harrington’s broody Southern drawl, to Jonas’ golden-retriever energy and enthusiastic word vomit, to Dr. Damon Archer’s grounded and protective calm—each voice was distinct, rich, and unforgettable. Their chemistry as a cast elevated the story in every way. If you loved Speak, Stutter will grip you even tighter. Twisty, emotional, and utterly immersive—this book and its narration are a masterclass in dark romance storytelling.
so it picks up straight after Speak and hits the ground running.
There is the continuation of plot line but it's absolutely hidden under a delicious layer of some of the most detailed smut. It's bloody brilliantly delivered by the narrators. Joe Arden is.... fuck...sublime! Honestly I'm not sure how he records but if he's swapping voices mid scene then...wow! Even if he's not the emotion and passion that he delivers is mind blowing. Firth did a wonderful job too...however small complaint - please don't attempt a Scottish accent if you can't do it - that bit was painful to listen too...
I loved the killing chapters - they are well written and cause a truly emotional hit as they are delivered brilliantly!
I loved the twist...even though I had a decent inkling it was nicely delivered and I was glad to have picked up on the foreshadowing.
I was really happy to have read the paperback at the same time as the audio doesn't have the bonus epilogue - it's a really nice bonus and I felt happy when I read it.
I'm pleased that we're not leaving the world...the 'cliffhanger ending' was good -though I liked it's not a terrible cliffhanger...more of a 'more to come' ending so you won't feel stressed.
Ruby has done it again! I absolutely love to read anything of hers! I listened to this one and absolutely loved it! Heather firth is so amazing at capturing raven and the raw emotion behind her character. Joe Arden and the characters her narrates if absolutely amazing. Each male character he does he always gives them their own voice and is so phenomenal at portraying each character. Raven is such a badass and we get a little more insight on her trauma and ptsd even after all she’s been through and the murders. Her men stand behind her helping take down anyone who ever hurt her. I love that we got more insight about maverick and his past. It helped understand his character and the development a lot! The spice was top notch as always! But that ending had me shell shocked beyond my core! I cannot wait to see what else ruby has in store for us! Five stars for the story, five stars for the narrators, and the spice was probably about a four and half!
🎧 “You killed me…I died. For one minute and seventeen seconds I was dead”. This sentence broke my heart. What rose from those ashes was a wounded warrior. This book is hard to review without giving away spoilers, but let’s try.
1. This is a continuation of Speak and wraps up most of the loose ends from Book 1 2. We learn more about the syndicate and just how despicable they truly were 3. Raven does take care of business and there is closure for her as she goes down her list 4. Jonas, Damon and Maverick’s obsession with her grows deeper and stronger 5. I had Shadow figured out by the reveal but it still made me sad… mad and sad
Heather Firth’s performance as Raven was a pinnacle for female voice acting. It was flawless. Joe Arden is the king for a reason, and if you ever doubt it, listen to this multicast performance by one man.
This duet was engaging and I truly enjoyed every moment.
Stutter is book 2 in the Rayne Moore University duet. This is a dark why choose romance. Make sure to check the trigger warning.
Ruby always writes 5 star reads!!!
This duet changed my brain chemistry I swear. I was hooked on Raven and her guys in Speak and going thru Stutter with them made me fall even more in love!!!
Raven is such a baddie and I wanna be her when I grow up!! And my Angel Baby Golden God Jonas!?!?! This man is EVERYTHING! Don't get me wrong, Daddy Damon and Professor Sir are dreamy and I love them with my whole heart, there is just something about Jonas.......
I laughed while reading this book, I cried a little bit and I was absolutely invested in this story and the characters. And the spice is OFF THE CHARTS!!!
if you haven't read this duet yet, go do it right now and then read Scream, Ravens bffs story!
This book takes up right where we left off in book one! And boy is this a roller-coaster ride with an ending I definitely didn't see coming!
Raven has her list that she's checking off and she's down one! She and her men come up with a plan to eliminate him! We get A LOT more spice in book two but i love it! Raven and her 3 men! I love how each man is so different and gives her different things but they all love her with their whole heart! The love they have for her is super sweet and they never give up on her even when she's at her lowest!
And that ending though! In the end Raven gets her justice so her and her men can live happily ever after! I really enjoyed this book and the audio! If I can I always try to listen while following along in the book! The narrators are of course incredible! Both bring such life to this story!
What in the cliff hanger ending was that!? Omg this was amazing! Every bit as good as Speak! Jonas is still my number one. I will say: I KNEW IT!! Now I’m hoping we get a spin off series or continuation. 27/5 stars! I love the why choose, dark academia, secret society, revenge, and found family tropes. I love all the sweet moments with Raven and Jonas’ mom. The way they all stand up for her and protect her while she exacts her revenge on those who wronged her. The scene with Jonas in the helicopter!? 😂 And just like the first one this is definitely one where the audiobook makes the whole experience perfection!! (Only one side critique…someone please teach Heather Firth how to pronounce peridot!)
After the cliffy in Speak, I was so ready to listen to Stutter. Once again Heather Firth and Joe Arden drop us back in to the darkness and it was delicious. Damon, Jonas and Maverick was all just as OTT as they’ve ever been and Raven is still seeking revenge. Best part for me was the gang goes from all share Raven to MMFM and oh my gosh was it hot. Who is the Shadow and what do they want? We find out and I was shocked, which I loved. I wanted Ruby Darling to give me all the darkness and she absolutely delivered. The book is amazing but the narration by Joe Arden and Heather Firth brought it to another level.
I can confirm I was not mental prepared for who the shadow man was! I feel like it’s obvious now but when it finally came out I was speechless. The shadow man’s final chapter honestly had my jaw on the floor and tied this whole book together for me!
I did find this book a little bit slow until the action all happened at the end and from then I was so hooked I couldn’t put this book down!
Also the ending scenes just sets up perfectly for book 3!
Okay, I’m officially obsessed with Speak and Stutter by Ruby Darling. I’ve listened to a lot of audiobooks this year, but nothing has hit me like these. I didn’t want to stop. Like, I was planning my day around when I could listen again. It’s dark, emotional, steamy (like, really steamy), but also so well written. The story actually means something, and the characters feel so real. I was completely sucked in from start to finish. And Heather Firth and Joe Arden? Literal perfection. Their voices, the emotion, the chemistry—they made the whole thing even better. I’m seriously in awe. Ruby Darling killed it with these. Easily my favorite books this year. No notes. Just wow.
How was Raven not a walking talking UTI? They were fucking every 5 minutes!
I thoroughly enjoyed Speak, there was an awesome story line and amazing smut, the balance was fab and something I look forward to in books.
I felt like every chapter there was nothing but smut with a bit of the final storyline thrown in, it truly ruined the book for me. It was a great ending to the story but what happened to her mother? Did she just stop existing?
The smut was awesome and there was some good banter, however, Jonas was painful, immature and it got old.
Maverick on the other hand was awesome and I could read a book just on Maverick.
Ehhhh… I mean, the underlying story of this duet had promise and Speak handled it better. But that plot-to-smut ratio? Yikes. Look, I totally get that weaving intimate scenes with four people demands serious page real estate, but c'mon now. The middle was a real slog—I kept eyeing the progress bar, wondering, "Is this ever gonna wrap up?" I flirted hard with a DNF, but stuck around, in part, to prove myself right about that "twist." Spoiler alert: nailed it.
This was such an epic conclusion to Ravens story. Speak left my heart so torn but yes it was put back together again. This book had me feeling so many emotions. It was funny cause God I love how Jonas puts Ravens mom in her place. It was spicy. I mean I don’t really need to go in much detail there do I lol. And it was heartbreaking. The plot twist I didn’t see coming. Maybe some did. I didn’t want to. God I really didn’t want to. This book was sooo good though. Be a good pup and read now. ❤️❤️❤️
First of all standing ovation for the performance but a double standing ovation to the queen herself Ruby Darling you wrote an amazing masterpiece!!
Alright back to the series. Jonas is just my all time favorite! Mavie is just who I need for my punishments and Daddy Damon to take care of me! Haha but to say that the plot got interesting and then gave me a wtf moment!!
If I could give this a million stars I would! But it’s definitely 5 ⭐️ and 5 🌶️!!!!
The spice? chef’s freaking kiss. A good why choose NEVER fails to hit the spot and this one served.
However, I clocked who “A” was right out the gate so I was kinda hoping for a little more mystery. But honestly, I’m not mad about it. This book gave exactly what it needed to give dark, spicy, and unapologetically filthy. 😈🖤
I just finished this book and I have to say, I am glad the author wrote 2 books in this series! This story was nicely tied up with great pacing. While I will look for any connected stories Ruby might write, this particular group feels well-written and I loved the way they complement each other. It felt like a natural ending to a great duo!
Ty to blue parade for the ALC I ate this book up!!! Love the duet style and joe Arden. Thought every single male character to life!! And love Raven too! A must read! But read speak first! Oh baby and the spice oh my goodness hot hot hot!!
the audio for these books are absolutely phenomenal. however I did guess quiet early on who A was. so this is just a 4 star for me. still good the spice is so hot 🥵🔥 very interesting that it's been left open for more books when I thought it was a duology so look forward to where it goes next.
Devoured in one day. One of the best books I’ve read in so long. The author keeps you guessing and riveted. This is a must for audible. Tragic and wonderful. So much spice that it will melt you. This is a second book in a duet and you must read them. Listen to them! Oh my loved This.