Never: Lassiter Sisters, Book 1

by Joy Avery, Zair Jordan (Narrator)

Never say what love can't—or won't—do.

Balloon Artist Gadiya Lassiter never imagined waking up without the love of her life, small-town fire chief Nico Dupree. Then one day, it becomes her tortured reality. Fast-forward two years...he's back and making his intentions to rekindle their flame known. But she vows to never love him again. As determined as she is to keep her heart out of his hands, love seems to have its own agenda.

For Nico, returning home to Mount Pleasance, North Carolina is not without its benefits. The most valuable, Gadiya. He's determined to reclaim her heart—despite her obvious goal to hate him. But he's not giving up on her; not again. He'll just have to convince her the disdain she harbors for him is far less potent than the love he knows she still has for him. And he'll do it one scorching kiss at a time.

As their attraction grows hotter and hotter, will Gadiya be able to escape the flames, or will Nico's fire consume her?

Audible Audio

Published December 9, 2025

About the author

By day, Joy Avery works as an engagement manager. By night, the North Carolina native travels to imaginary worlds—creating characters whose romantic journeys invariably end happily ever after.

Since she was a young girl growing up in Garner, Joy knew she wanted to write. Stumbling onto romance novels, she discovered her passion for love stories; instantly, she knew these were the type stories she wanted to pen.

Real characters. Real journeys. Real good love is what you’ll find in a Joy Avery romance.

Joy is a member of Romance Writers of America.