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Averted
She was determined to avert her heart,
He was determined to claim it.
What happens when a badass model in the midst of her master plan for revenge gets distracted by a pair of brown eyes?
Her desperate need to escape her feelings only seemed to pull him closer. She was set on averting. Too bad she came across one stubborn motorcycle riding distraction.
He was determined to claim it.
What happens when a badass model in the midst of her master plan for revenge gets distracted by a pair of brown eyes?
Her desperate need to escape her feelings only seemed to pull him closer. She was set on averting. Too bad she came across one stubborn motorcycle riding distraction.
Audible Audio
Published July 24, 2026
About the author
Lena Knight
5 books17 followersCoffee addict
Book (including audio) addict
Indie author
Book (including audio) addict
Indie author
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
August 14, 2026
✨️ ARC REVIEW ✨️
Averted by Lena Knight
NOW AVALIABLE AND ON KU
Thoughts | 4.5 ⭐️
I had no idea what to expect going into this ~ picked up solely for the tropes and happy to say that I really enjoyed this, would definitely like to continue this series and read more from this author in the future. I absolutely loved the push pull vibes between the MCs! If you enjoy emotional and messy family dynamic I highly recommend this book! I really enjoyed how the couple developed I mean they couldn't be more opposites and the perfect match in their own way at the same time.
I loved how the FMC was portrayed both strong and vulnerable equally, it added to the character growth and the couple as well! I just know I found myself a new series to obsess over as I've already fallen in love with these characters and their world
What To Expect
▪︎ He falls first
▪︎ Revenge plot
▪︎ Found family
▪︎ Biker MMC x Model FMC
▪︎ Forbidden romance
▪︎ Dual POV
Plot Summary
Sabrina is a wealthy young model with a background in law, determined to get revenge on her father after uncovering his hidden secrets. Her plans take an unexpected turn when she meets Mateo, a brilliant engineering and computer science student who slowly breaks through her guarded nature. As their relationship grows, Sabrina begins to question whether revenge is worth losing the people who truly care about her. Along the way,Eva stands out as a wise and comforting presence, bringing warmth and depth to the story.
Many thanks to the author for the ALC
My Bookstagram
Averted by Lena Knight
NOW AVALIABLE AND ON KU
Thoughts | 4.5 ⭐️
I had no idea what to expect going into this ~ picked up solely for the tropes and happy to say that I really enjoyed this, would definitely like to continue this series and read more from this author in the future. I absolutely loved the push pull vibes between the MCs! If you enjoy emotional and messy family dynamic I highly recommend this book! I really enjoyed how the couple developed I mean they couldn't be more opposites and the perfect match in their own way at the same time.
I loved how the FMC was portrayed both strong and vulnerable equally, it added to the character growth and the couple as well! I just know I found myself a new series to obsess over as I've already fallen in love with these characters and their world
What To Expect
▪︎ He falls first
▪︎ Revenge plot
▪︎ Found family
▪︎ Biker MMC x Model FMC
▪︎ Forbidden romance
▪︎ Dual POV
Plot Summary
Sabrina is a wealthy young model with a background in law, determined to get revenge on her father after uncovering his hidden secrets. Her plans take an unexpected turn when she meets Mateo, a brilliant engineering and computer science student who slowly breaks through her guarded nature. As their relationship grows, Sabrina begins to question whether revenge is worth losing the people who truly care about her. Along the way,Eva stands out as a wise and comforting presence, bringing warmth and depth to the story.
Many thanks to the author for the ALC
My Bookstagram
August 9, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars | 🌶️🌶️ 2 Chili Peppers
Averted by Lena Knight
Brick-ed Series #1
Audiobook Narrators: Andi Eloise & Caden Hart
Averted was a really enjoyable mix of romance, found family, family drama, and suspense. Mateo and Sabrina come from completely different worlds, and I really liked watching those worlds collide.
Mateo was easily one of my favorite parts of this book. His upbringing in foster care could have left him without a real sense of family, but instead, he found his people. I absolutely loved his relationship with the other guys and especially Mama Eva. The found-family dynamic had so much heart, and the fact that these grown men still have a family book club together was ridiculously cute.
Sabrina, on the other hand, comes from a wealthy and powerful family where appearances are everything. Behind that perfect image are plenty of secrets, and she’s determined to expose her corrupt father. Then Mateo comes along and completely complicates her plans.
I will say, the push-and-pull between Sabrina and Mateo in the beginning frustrated me a little bit. Mateo falls hard, while Sabrina keeps pushing him away because she believes being with her will put him in danger. I understood her reasoning, but after a while, I was ready for her to stop fighting their connection.
My biggest critique, though, was the pacing. This book moves FAST, especially in the beginning, and there are a lot of characters and relationships introduced pretty quickly. There were definitely moments where I felt a little lost trying to figure out who everyone was and exactly what was happening. Because of that, the story lost my attention for a little while.
But once I hit around the 50–60% mark, everything really started clicking for me. The story picked up, the suspense surrounding Sabrina’s family pulled me back in, and I became much more invested in Sabrina and Mateo’s relationship.
And the audiobook was definitely a win! Andi Eloise and Caden Hart perform this in duet narration, and they did such a great job bringing Sabrina and Mateo to life. Caden especially captured Mateo’s completely-gone-for-her energy perfectly.
Overall, despite feeling a little lost in the first half, I really enjoyed where this story went. Give me a man who falls first, forbidden romance, found family, family secrets, danger, and a little chaos, and I’m in. By the end, I was invested enough in this group that I definitely want to continue the Brick-ed series.
Averted by Lena Knight
Brick-ed Series #1
Audiobook Narrators: Andi Eloise & Caden Hart
Averted was a really enjoyable mix of romance, found family, family drama, and suspense. Mateo and Sabrina come from completely different worlds, and I really liked watching those worlds collide.
Mateo was easily one of my favorite parts of this book. His upbringing in foster care could have left him without a real sense of family, but instead, he found his people. I absolutely loved his relationship with the other guys and especially Mama Eva. The found-family dynamic had so much heart, and the fact that these grown men still have a family book club together was ridiculously cute.
Sabrina, on the other hand, comes from a wealthy and powerful family where appearances are everything. Behind that perfect image are plenty of secrets, and she’s determined to expose her corrupt father. Then Mateo comes along and completely complicates her plans.
I will say, the push-and-pull between Sabrina and Mateo in the beginning frustrated me a little bit. Mateo falls hard, while Sabrina keeps pushing him away because she believes being with her will put him in danger. I understood her reasoning, but after a while, I was ready for her to stop fighting their connection.
My biggest critique, though, was the pacing. This book moves FAST, especially in the beginning, and there are a lot of characters and relationships introduced pretty quickly. There were definitely moments where I felt a little lost trying to figure out who everyone was and exactly what was happening. Because of that, the story lost my attention for a little while.
But once I hit around the 50–60% mark, everything really started clicking for me. The story picked up, the suspense surrounding Sabrina’s family pulled me back in, and I became much more invested in Sabrina and Mateo’s relationship.
And the audiobook was definitely a win! Andi Eloise and Caden Hart perform this in duet narration, and they did such a great job bringing Sabrina and Mateo to life. Caden especially captured Mateo’s completely-gone-for-her energy perfectly.
Overall, despite feeling a little lost in the first half, I really enjoyed where this story went. Give me a man who falls first, forbidden romance, found family, family secrets, danger, and a little chaos, and I’m in. By the end, I was invested enough in this group that I definitely want to continue the Brick-ed series.
August 11, 2026
This was my first book by Lena Knight, but it definitely won’t be my last!
I received an ALC of Averted through NetGalley, and I’m so glad I decided to listen to this one. At its heart, this was such a beautiful story about found family, learning how to accept love, and two people from completely different worlds finding exactly what they didn’t know they needed.
Matteo and Sabrina truly couldn’t be more opposite. Sabrina comes from money and privilege and has never really wanted for anything materially, while Matteo has worked and fought for everything he has. But emotionally? Their lives are almost completely reversed.
Matteo knows what it feels like to have a family. He knows what love looks like, what it feels like, and how you’re supposed to show up for the people you care about. Sabrina may have grown up surrounded by wealth, but her family is far more concerned with appearances, expectations, and what she can bring to the family name than they are with actually loving her.
And because of that, Sabrina has absolutely no idea what to do when Matteo starts showing her something real.
She tries to keep her distance. She tries to push him away. Matteo? He is having absolutely none of it.
Watching their relationship slowly develop and seeing Sabrina begin to understand what it feels like to genuinely be cared for was probably my favorite part of the story. There’s something so beautiful about watching someone who has spent her life protecting her heart finally realize she’s found a person and a family where she can belong.
The beginning was a little slower for me, but once I really settled into the story, it took off and I flew through the rest.
And the narration was fantastic. Andi Eloise is already an automatic listen for me, and once again she did an amazing job bringing the female narration and Sabrina’s character to life. This was my first time listening to Caden Hart, and I really enjoyed his performance as well. Together, they did such a great job with Matteo and Sabrina’s story and made this an audiobook I’m really glad I experienced in audio.
If you love opposites attract, found family, characters from completely different worlds, and an MMC who refuses to let the woman he wants convince herself she isn’t worthy of being loved, definitely give Averted a try.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
I received an ALC of Averted through NetGalley, and I’m so glad I decided to listen to this one. At its heart, this was such a beautiful story about found family, learning how to accept love, and two people from completely different worlds finding exactly what they didn’t know they needed.
Matteo and Sabrina truly couldn’t be more opposite. Sabrina comes from money and privilege and has never really wanted for anything materially, while Matteo has worked and fought for everything he has. But emotionally? Their lives are almost completely reversed.
Matteo knows what it feels like to have a family. He knows what love looks like, what it feels like, and how you’re supposed to show up for the people you care about. Sabrina may have grown up surrounded by wealth, but her family is far more concerned with appearances, expectations, and what she can bring to the family name than they are with actually loving her.
And because of that, Sabrina has absolutely no idea what to do when Matteo starts showing her something real.
She tries to keep her distance. She tries to push him away. Matteo? He is having absolutely none of it.
Watching their relationship slowly develop and seeing Sabrina begin to understand what it feels like to genuinely be cared for was probably my favorite part of the story. There’s something so beautiful about watching someone who has spent her life protecting her heart finally realize she’s found a person and a family where she can belong.
The beginning was a little slower for me, but once I really settled into the story, it took off and I flew through the rest.
And the narration was fantastic. Andi Eloise is already an automatic listen for me, and once again she did an amazing job bringing the female narration and Sabrina’s character to life. This was my first time listening to Caden Hart, and I really enjoyed his performance as well. Together, they did such a great job with Matteo and Sabrina’s story and made this an audiobook I’m really glad I experienced in audio.
If you love opposites attract, found family, characters from completely different worlds, and an MMC who refuses to let the woman he wants convince herself she isn’t worthy of being loved, definitely give Averted a try.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
August 11, 2026
ALC Review:
Duet Narration by Andi Eloise and Caden Hart
Tropes:
Forbidden Romance
Reformed bad girl
Book club
Found Family
Revenge Plot
He Falls First
Sabrina is a wealthy 20-year-old model using her law school background to orchestrate a revenge plot against her father after discovering his secrets. Mateo, a motorcycle-riding engineering and computer science genius, comes into her life and falls first. He exhibits incredible patience, slowly breaking through her walls step-by-step. A standout element of the cast is Mama Eva—her intelligence, serene presence, and wisdom left me wishing for a dedicated book about her past!
This was my first time listening to author Lena Knight, but it won’t be my last! The prologue hooked me immediately. Andi Eloise captures Sabrina's sharp, guarded intensity and underlying vulnerability flawlessly, while Caden Hart voices Mateo with the perfect blend of warmth, charm, and steady patience. Their handling of the side characters was equally impressive—especially the distinct, serene delivery for Mama Eva—making the entire ensemble feel vibrant and fully realized.
Huge thanks to Netgalley and author Lena Knight for this ALC!!
Duet Narration by Andi Eloise and Caden Hart
Tropes:
Forbidden Romance
Reformed bad girl
Book club
Found Family
Revenge Plot
He Falls First
Sabrina is a wealthy 20-year-old model using her law school background to orchestrate a revenge plot against her father after discovering his secrets. Mateo, a motorcycle-riding engineering and computer science genius, comes into her life and falls first. He exhibits incredible patience, slowly breaking through her walls step-by-step. A standout element of the cast is Mama Eva—her intelligence, serene presence, and wisdom left me wishing for a dedicated book about her past!
This was my first time listening to author Lena Knight, but it won’t be my last! The prologue hooked me immediately. Andi Eloise captures Sabrina's sharp, guarded intensity and underlying vulnerability flawlessly, while Caden Hart voices Mateo with the perfect blend of warmth, charm, and steady patience. Their handling of the side characters was equally impressive—especially the distinct, serene delivery for Mama Eva—making the entire ensemble feel vibrant and fully realized.
Huge thanks to Netgalley and author Lena Knight for this ALC!!
August 6, 2026
4 ⭐️
2 🌶
🎧 duet
Apc rtc
2 🌶
🎧 duet
Apc rtc
August 17, 2026
I had such a mixed time with this one because there was a lot that I really enjoyed, but I also felt like something was missing from the core of the story. Matteo and Sabrina are both fantastic characters individually. Sabrina in particular was a standout for me. She’s intelligent, incredibly capable and always seems to have a plan, and I loved that she was constantly thinking several steps ahead rather than being written as your typical female main character. Matteo gave me very strong Jess from Gilmore Girls vibes: the slightly bad boy exterior, but underneath that he’s intelligent, hardworking and actually incredibly caring. I really liked him, and I especially enjoyed his family and the friendships throughout the book.
My biggest issue was that there were simply too many other characters and storylines competing for attention. I wanted more time with Sabrina and Matteo as a couple, because I never quite felt like they had enough time together to build the kind of foundation that made their intense devotion to each other completely believable. I wanted to see them really get to know each other before reaching the “I’ll scour the ends of the earth for you” stage. The dialogue also felt a little clunky in places, although overall I did enjoy Lena Knight’s writing style.
That said, the revenge and mystery element surrounding Sabrina’s family was really well done and gave the story some genuine substance beyond the romance. The spice was also very well written, and there was plenty of fun to be had here. I also really enjoyed the friendships and family dynamics throughout the story, particularly Matteo’s family, and I’d happily read more about them.
The audiobook was definitely a highlight for me. I listened while reading the book and thought both narrators did an excellent job. I particularly loved having a male and female narrator for the dual POVs, while still having each narrator voice all of the characters within their respective chapters. The different voices, emotions and characterisation were all really well done, and both narrators brought the story to life beautifully.
Overall, this was a really fun read with some fantastic characters, a well thought out revenge plot and plenty of spice. I just wish more of the book had been dedicated to developing the central relationship, because I think that would have taken this from an enjoyable read to one I really loved.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC copy of the audiobook. I was also gifted a physical copy of the book by a friend for my birthday.
My biggest issue was that there were simply too many other characters and storylines competing for attention. I wanted more time with Sabrina and Matteo as a couple, because I never quite felt like they had enough time together to build the kind of foundation that made their intense devotion to each other completely believable. I wanted to see them really get to know each other before reaching the “I’ll scour the ends of the earth for you” stage. The dialogue also felt a little clunky in places, although overall I did enjoy Lena Knight’s writing style.
That said, the revenge and mystery element surrounding Sabrina’s family was really well done and gave the story some genuine substance beyond the romance. The spice was also very well written, and there was plenty of fun to be had here. I also really enjoyed the friendships and family dynamics throughout the story, particularly Matteo’s family, and I’d happily read more about them.
The audiobook was definitely a highlight for me. I listened while reading the book and thought both narrators did an excellent job. I particularly loved having a male and female narrator for the dual POVs, while still having each narrator voice all of the characters within their respective chapters. The different voices, emotions and characterisation were all really well done, and both narrators brought the story to life beautifully.
Overall, this was a really fun read with some fantastic characters, a well thought out revenge plot and plenty of spice. I just wish more of the book had been dedicated to developing the central relationship, because I think that would have taken this from an enjoyable read to one I really loved.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC copy of the audiobook. I was also gifted a physical copy of the book by a friend for my birthday.
August 3, 2026
I finally made my way to this one after having it sitting on my TBR for far too long, and I’m honestly wondering why I waited so long! This was such a fun contemporary romance with a little bit of everything—romance, family drama, humor, emotional moments, secrets, and plenty happening to keep things moving.
One thing to know going in is that there are quite a few characters, and having read some of the author's other books featuring this group definitely helped me recognize everyone. That said, I absolutely loved getting more of this family because they are seriously family goals.
Mateo completely stole my heart. His upbringing in foster care could have left him feeling disconnected from everyone, but instead, he eventually found his people. His biological brother, the other guys who became his brothers, and especially Mama Eva created this incredible found-family dynamic. The relationship between Mama Eva and the boys was one of my favorite parts. These men may have grown up and aged out of the system, but that never stopped her from being their mom. Even their weekly family book club was ridiculously sweet!
Then there’s Sabrina, who comes from the complete opposite kind of family. Her family has money, power, and influence, but there is absolutely nothing warm or comforting about them. Sabrina is caught up in a dangerous situation involving her corrupt father, and she’s determined to bring him down. She also discovers that she has a brother from another mother, who becomes an important ally as she tries to expose what her family has been hiding.
On top of all that, Sabrina is expected to maintain the perfect image her family wants, including working as a model for their fashion empire and staying away from anyone they consider beneath their standards.
Naturally, that becomes a problem when Mateo enters the picture.
Their relationship has that delicious forbidden-romance element, and I loved how complicated everything became. Mateo falls first, and Sabrina definitely has feelings for him, but she repeatedly tries to push him away because she knows getting involved with her could put him in danger.
It was frustrating at times watching Sabrina keep pulling Mateo close and then shutting him out, but I understood why she was doing it. She wasn't simply playing games—she was trying to protect him while simultaneously putting herself directly in the line of fire to take down her father.
There were a few moments where I wasn't completely sure about the timeline. I occasionally felt like I had missed a little piece of information about how much time had passed, especially when Mateo was upset that Sabrina hadn't been honest with him. His reaction made me think their relationship had progressed further than I had realized. It didn't ruin the story for me, but I did have a couple of moments where I had to pause and mentally figure out where we were in their relationship.
I also had mixed luck with some of the pop-culture references. There are references to music, movies, books, and Ravenhood, and I'm sure readers who are familiar with all of them will have an absolute blast catching everything. I haven't experienced every book, song, or movie mentioned, so a few of those moments went over my head. Still, I could tell they were a fun addition.
The pacing worked really well for me. There was always something happening, but the story still made room for the emotional side of things. I loved the combination of romance and suspense, especially because Sabrina's situation with her family adds a real sense of danger to everything happening between her and Mateo.
And the audiobook was a definite win!
I listened to the ALC from the author, and Andi Eloise and Caden Hart did a fantastic job bringing these characters to life. Their performances made the story even more enjoyable, and the audio is definitely worth checking out if you prefer listening.
Overall, this was such a great mix of contemporary romance, forbidden love, found family, family secrets, and a hero who falls hard. Mateo and Sabrina couldn't come from more different worlds, but that's exactly what made their relationship so interesting.
I adored Mateo's family, especially the bond between the brothers and Mama Eva, and I'm absolutely invested enough in this world to continue.
I’ll definitely be picking up Anticipated, Book 2 in the Brick-ed series, because there is no way I’m stopping here!
One thing to know going in is that there are quite a few characters, and having read some of the author's other books featuring this group definitely helped me recognize everyone. That said, I absolutely loved getting more of this family because they are seriously family goals.
Mateo completely stole my heart. His upbringing in foster care could have left him feeling disconnected from everyone, but instead, he eventually found his people. His biological brother, the other guys who became his brothers, and especially Mama Eva created this incredible found-family dynamic. The relationship between Mama Eva and the boys was one of my favorite parts. These men may have grown up and aged out of the system, but that never stopped her from being their mom. Even their weekly family book club was ridiculously sweet!
Then there’s Sabrina, who comes from the complete opposite kind of family. Her family has money, power, and influence, but there is absolutely nothing warm or comforting about them. Sabrina is caught up in a dangerous situation involving her corrupt father, and she’s determined to bring him down. She also discovers that she has a brother from another mother, who becomes an important ally as she tries to expose what her family has been hiding.
On top of all that, Sabrina is expected to maintain the perfect image her family wants, including working as a model for their fashion empire and staying away from anyone they consider beneath their standards.
Naturally, that becomes a problem when Mateo enters the picture.
Their relationship has that delicious forbidden-romance element, and I loved how complicated everything became. Mateo falls first, and Sabrina definitely has feelings for him, but she repeatedly tries to push him away because she knows getting involved with her could put him in danger.
It was frustrating at times watching Sabrina keep pulling Mateo close and then shutting him out, but I understood why she was doing it. She wasn't simply playing games—she was trying to protect him while simultaneously putting herself directly in the line of fire to take down her father.
There were a few moments where I wasn't completely sure about the timeline. I occasionally felt like I had missed a little piece of information about how much time had passed, especially when Mateo was upset that Sabrina hadn't been honest with him. His reaction made me think their relationship had progressed further than I had realized. It didn't ruin the story for me, but I did have a couple of moments where I had to pause and mentally figure out where we were in their relationship.
I also had mixed luck with some of the pop-culture references. There are references to music, movies, books, and Ravenhood, and I'm sure readers who are familiar with all of them will have an absolute blast catching everything. I haven't experienced every book, song, or movie mentioned, so a few of those moments went over my head. Still, I could tell they were a fun addition.
The pacing worked really well for me. There was always something happening, but the story still made room for the emotional side of things. I loved the combination of romance and suspense, especially because Sabrina's situation with her family adds a real sense of danger to everything happening between her and Mateo.
And the audiobook was a definite win!
I listened to the ALC from the author, and Andi Eloise and Caden Hart did a fantastic job bringing these characters to life. Their performances made the story even more enjoyable, and the audio is definitely worth checking out if you prefer listening.
Overall, this was such a great mix of contemporary romance, forbidden love, found family, family secrets, and a hero who falls hard. Mateo and Sabrina couldn't come from more different worlds, but that's exactly what made their relationship so interesting.
I adored Mateo's family, especially the bond between the brothers and Mama Eva, and I'm absolutely invested enough in this world to continue.
I’ll definitely be picking up Anticipated, Book 2 in the Brick-ed series, because there is no way I’m stopping here!
August 27, 2026
Averted by Lena Knight is the first book in the Brick-ed Series, following Sabrina and Mateo.
Sabrina has spent her entire life trying to be the perfect daughter, molding herself into whatever her parents expected her to be. Now working as a model, she discovers a devastating truth about her father: he has a son—a half-brother Sabrina never knew existed—whom he abandoned. Determined to get justice and hold her father accountable, Sabrina sets out to take him down.
Then she meets Mateo, and their connection is immediate. While I think their romance had a lot of potential, I struggled to fully understand their attraction to each other. Their relationship felt very rushed, and I would have loved to see more of a genuine buildup between them before they fell into such an intense relationship. The instant love/lust aspect just didn't work for me.
Honestly, the strongest part of the book for me was Sabrina and her determination to bring her father down. I really enjoyed watching her take control and fight for what she believed was right. Sabrina was a compelling character, and her storyline kept me much more invested than the romance.
I also had some mixed feelings about Mateo. At times, his behavior came across as much younger than his age. I know the characters are students in their early twenties, but some of Mateo's actions felt particularly immature, especially when contrasted with the more sexual aspects of his character. There were moments where that combination felt a little odd to me.
One thing I absolutely loved, though, was the cast of side characters. I thought they were well-developed, and I really enjoyed the different relationships and dynamics between them. They added a lot to the overall story and made the book more engaging.
Overall, I thought Averted had a strong plot and some really interesting characters, particularly Sabrina and the supporting cast. My biggest issue was the romance, which felt too rushed and heavily reliant on instant attraction. I think I would have enjoyed it much more if Sabrina and Mateo had been given more time to develop a believable connection. That said, the underlying story was entertaining, and I'm definitely interested in seeing where the series goes from here.
Sabrina has spent her entire life trying to be the perfect daughter, molding herself into whatever her parents expected her to be. Now working as a model, she discovers a devastating truth about her father: he has a son—a half-brother Sabrina never knew existed—whom he abandoned. Determined to get justice and hold her father accountable, Sabrina sets out to take him down.
Then she meets Mateo, and their connection is immediate. While I think their romance had a lot of potential, I struggled to fully understand their attraction to each other. Their relationship felt very rushed, and I would have loved to see more of a genuine buildup between them before they fell into such an intense relationship. The instant love/lust aspect just didn't work for me.
Honestly, the strongest part of the book for me was Sabrina and her determination to bring her father down. I really enjoyed watching her take control and fight for what she believed was right. Sabrina was a compelling character, and her storyline kept me much more invested than the romance.
I also had some mixed feelings about Mateo. At times, his behavior came across as much younger than his age. I know the characters are students in their early twenties, but some of Mateo's actions felt particularly immature, especially when contrasted with the more sexual aspects of his character. There were moments where that combination felt a little odd to me.
One thing I absolutely loved, though, was the cast of side characters. I thought they were well-developed, and I really enjoyed the different relationships and dynamics between them. They added a lot to the overall story and made the book more engaging.
Overall, I thought Averted had a strong plot and some really interesting characters, particularly Sabrina and the supporting cast. My biggest issue was the romance, which felt too rushed and heavily reliant on instant attraction. I think I would have enjoyed it much more if Sabrina and Mateo had been given more time to develop a believable connection. That said, the underlying story was entertaining, and I'm definitely interested in seeing where the series goes from here.
August 22, 2026
This one gave me something I wasn't expecting.
Hallmark after dark energy.
Think cozy romance... then add a motorcycle, a revenge plot and enough spice to make the Christmas lights flicker.
Sabrina is determined to stick to her plan and keep her emotions exactly where she thinks they belong: locked away and under control.
Then Mateo shows up... and keeps showing up.
And this man is a whole damn distraction.
He's got the motorcycle, the confidence and that little bit of grit you expect from a biker MMC, but underneath all of that is a smart man with a good head on his shoulders. He's steady, patient and knows how to communicate. And honestly? I really liked that about him.
Sabrina grew up in a world where appearances mattered more than feelings. Everything was about control, perfection and keeping her real emotions tucked away.
Mateo's world couldn't be more different.
He comes from a family where love, communication and showing up for each other actually matter. Mama Eva's household has this warmth to it that I really enjoyed and the found-family element ended up being one of my favorite parts of the story.
And these two?
They just work.
Sabrina keeps trying to stay focused while Mateo has this very persistent way of showing up that makes it harder for her to ignore what is happening between them. Their back and forth felt natural and I liked that the romance had a passionate sweetness underneath the biker grit and revenge.
There's spice, there's danger, there's family tension and there's a man who seems determined to make himself very difficult for Sabrina to ignore. 😂
And the audiobook?
Andi Eloise and Caden Hart were a great match for these characters. I really enjoyed their performances and the way they brought Sabrina and Mateo to life.
It's a cozy, spicy romance with some biker grit, a revenge plot, found-family feels and two people who couldn't be more different on paper.
Sometimes the best distractions are the ones you never saw coming.
And apparently, Sabrina found hers on a motorcycle.
Read it. Listen to it. Come scream with me afterward. 💜
— Naughty Book Nook
Hallmark after dark energy.
Think cozy romance... then add a motorcycle, a revenge plot and enough spice to make the Christmas lights flicker.
Sabrina is determined to stick to her plan and keep her emotions exactly where she thinks they belong: locked away and under control.
Then Mateo shows up... and keeps showing up.
And this man is a whole damn distraction.
He's got the motorcycle, the confidence and that little bit of grit you expect from a biker MMC, but underneath all of that is a smart man with a good head on his shoulders. He's steady, patient and knows how to communicate. And honestly? I really liked that about him.
Sabrina grew up in a world where appearances mattered more than feelings. Everything was about control, perfection and keeping her real emotions tucked away.
Mateo's world couldn't be more different.
He comes from a family where love, communication and showing up for each other actually matter. Mama Eva's household has this warmth to it that I really enjoyed and the found-family element ended up being one of my favorite parts of the story.
And these two?
They just work.
Sabrina keeps trying to stay focused while Mateo has this very persistent way of showing up that makes it harder for her to ignore what is happening between them. Their back and forth felt natural and I liked that the romance had a passionate sweetness underneath the biker grit and revenge.
There's spice, there's danger, there's family tension and there's a man who seems determined to make himself very difficult for Sabrina to ignore. 😂
And the audiobook?
Andi Eloise and Caden Hart were a great match for these characters. I really enjoyed their performances and the way they brought Sabrina and Mateo to life.
It's a cozy, spicy romance with some biker grit, a revenge plot, found-family feels and two people who couldn't be more different on paper.
Sometimes the best distractions are the ones you never saw coming.
And apparently, Sabrina found hers on a motorcycle.
Read it. Listen to it. Come scream with me afterward. 💜
— Naughty Book Nook
September 20, 2026
I found Averted by Lena Knight, as I was scrolling through Instagram. I usually find new authors from there and I was fortunate to find the opportunity to grab an advanced listening copy from Lena. She's a new to me author, so I was excited to see if the story would keep my interest. And did it? Yes. Yes it did! We're first introduced to Sabrina as a sexy, motorcycle riding gal that you could only dream of becoming! I mean, come on, a beautiful, rich, model, baddie with an eye on revenge? Oh yeah, now I'm invested!
During her plot for revenge she meets super hot Mateo, a fellow motorcycle rider, who comes from a large band of adopted brothers, all but one, who's his bio kid brother. While his family is loving, and talented, each in their own way, Sabrina, or Sab as she's known by her friends and few loved ones, comes from a rich, manipulative and possibly criminal family who treats Samantha like a product or property. Actually, she is the face for their beauty line! Thus, she keeps her walls high and averts her heart to love. She's got her eye on the prize!
However, that doesn't stop Mateo! He gives it his all to break down those walls, in every chance he gets to spend time with her. He most definitely falls first, but because she's so devoted in conveying her justice scheme against her family, she doesn't really give him a chance. Like that's going to stop him, but not in a creepy stalker way. Nevertheless, he continues to show his love and support, and if that isn't anyone's dream partner, I don't know who is? Speaking of which..
Our narrators, Andi Eloise and Caden Hart conveyed all the emotions; the hurt, anger and pain from Sabrina. The love and determination from Mateo. As well as everything else in between. Andi and Caden are also new to me narrators but they got the job done and I hope to find more books narrated by them in the future! With all that said, I'm giving this book a 4.5 ⭐. Regardless, it also has me very excited for the second book. Will it be a continuation of this one, or will it be a new story with different characters? I can't wait to find out.
During her plot for revenge she meets super hot Mateo, a fellow motorcycle rider, who comes from a large band of adopted brothers, all but one, who's his bio kid brother. While his family is loving, and talented, each in their own way, Sabrina, or Sab as she's known by her friends and few loved ones, comes from a rich, manipulative and possibly criminal family who treats Samantha like a product or property. Actually, she is the face for their beauty line! Thus, she keeps her walls high and averts her heart to love. She's got her eye on the prize!
However, that doesn't stop Mateo! He gives it his all to break down those walls, in every chance he gets to spend time with her. He most definitely falls first, but because she's so devoted in conveying her justice scheme against her family, she doesn't really give him a chance. Like that's going to stop him, but not in a creepy stalker way. Nevertheless, he continues to show his love and support, and if that isn't anyone's dream partner, I don't know who is? Speaking of which..
Our narrators, Andi Eloise and Caden Hart conveyed all the emotions; the hurt, anger and pain from Sabrina. The love and determination from Mateo. As well as everything else in between. Andi and Caden are also new to me narrators but they got the job done and I hope to find more books narrated by them in the future! With all that said, I'm giving this book a 4.5 ⭐. Regardless, it also has me very excited for the second book. Will it be a continuation of this one, or will it be a new story with different characters? I can't wait to find out.
August 4, 2026
This one has been sitting on my TBR for a while now and when Lena said she had the audio available, I jumped on the opportunity, and I am so glad I was able to listen to it! The audio is duet narration with Andi Eloise (one of my favs) and Caden Hart and they both did a phenomenal job bringing these characters and story to life.
This was a fast paced read and a great mix of contemporary romance, family drama, secrets, suspense and found family.
Sabrina's family has money, power, influence and she has basically been a puppet for them her whole life. She is determined to escape it and to bring down her corrupt father. Then we have Matteo. He didn't have the best upbringing but was able to find his perfect family which was absolutely amazing. I thought that how him and Sabrina met was super cute. Their worlds are definitely complete opposites, and I feel like it gave the story a forbidden feel.
I liked having the bit of mystery and suspense added into this one. There was definitely always something happening that kept you hooked into the story. The chemistry was definitely instantly there with Sabrina and Matteo and when the spice hit, it hit. I hated that she kept pushing him away, but at the same time I understood why she was. She didn't know how to love or be loved and also knew that she was putting him and his family in danger.
There were times that I was unsure about the timeline, but that didn't really take away from the story for me. I did feel like there were a lot of "smoking" references in this one and it was a little bit much for me, but that might just be a me thing (I am not a smoker).
Overall, I really enjoyed this one! If you're looking for a fast-paced romance with a little bit of mystery and suspense, good spice, great found family, an MMC that is determined not to let her go and an FMC that is just trying to get out of a messed-up family situation, then definitely recommend you check this one out!
This was a fast paced read and a great mix of contemporary romance, family drama, secrets, suspense and found family.
Sabrina's family has money, power, influence and she has basically been a puppet for them her whole life. She is determined to escape it and to bring down her corrupt father. Then we have Matteo. He didn't have the best upbringing but was able to find his perfect family which was absolutely amazing. I thought that how him and Sabrina met was super cute. Their worlds are definitely complete opposites, and I feel like it gave the story a forbidden feel.
I liked having the bit of mystery and suspense added into this one. There was definitely always something happening that kept you hooked into the story. The chemistry was definitely instantly there with Sabrina and Matteo and when the spice hit, it hit. I hated that she kept pushing him away, but at the same time I understood why she was. She didn't know how to love or be loved and also knew that she was putting him and his family in danger.
There were times that I was unsure about the timeline, but that didn't really take away from the story for me. I did feel like there were a lot of "smoking" references in this one and it was a little bit much for me, but that might just be a me thing (I am not a smoker).
Overall, I really enjoyed this one! If you're looking for a fast-paced romance with a little bit of mystery and suspense, good spice, great found family, an MMC that is determined not to let her go and an FMC that is just trying to get out of a messed-up family situation, then definitely recommend you check this one out!
July 29, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up:
I'm so glad that I was finally able to get to this book it's been on my TBR for awhile. This story was fast paced with a dash of heart, humor and emotional moments spread throughout. There is a large cast of characters I may have had an easier time with this as I have read a few of the other books in a different series by this author that involved this loving band of brothers and their beautiful Mama Eva.
I loved Mateo's family they are true family goals! Sabrina while her own family were ruthless she did have some close friends to help her get through.
I received this ALC from the author and I loved the Narrators Andi Eloise and Caden Hart were awesome!
I would say that I felt like I might of missed something a few times in the story because I wasn't quite sure how much time had passed throughout most of the book and I thought they had only been together maybe once or twice at this particular time but Mateo was upset that Sabrina hadn't told him the truth leading me to believe that he felt their relationship had progressed further than I thought it had.
There are many pop culture references to books, movies and music and I wasn't always able to follow along quite as well with those segments because I hadn't heard the song, read the book or seen the movie but if you are up on your pop culture references you are going to love these parts of the book.
Book Blog: https://elbyslibrary.blogspot.com/202...
*Indie Author ALC *Strangers to More *Heiress FMC *Model FMC *College romance
*Revenge plan *FMC doesn't know love *found family *pop culture mentions
*State Challenge Mass (repeat)
I'm so glad that I was finally able to get to this book it's been on my TBR for awhile. This story was fast paced with a dash of heart, humor and emotional moments spread throughout. There is a large cast of characters I may have had an easier time with this as I have read a few of the other books in a different series by this author that involved this loving band of brothers and their beautiful Mama Eva.
I loved Mateo's family they are true family goals! Sabrina while her own family were ruthless she did have some close friends to help her get through.
I received this ALC from the author and I loved the Narrators Andi Eloise and Caden Hart were awesome!
I would say that I felt like I might of missed something a few times in the story because I wasn't quite sure how much time had passed throughout most of the book and I thought they had only been together maybe once or twice at this particular time but Mateo was upset that Sabrina hadn't told him the truth leading me to believe that he felt their relationship had progressed further than I thought it had.
There are many pop culture references to books, movies and music and I wasn't always able to follow along quite as well with those segments because I hadn't heard the song, read the book or seen the movie but if you are up on your pop culture references you are going to love these parts of the book.
Book Blog: https://elbyslibrary.blogspot.com/202...
*Indie Author ALC *Strangers to More *Heiress FMC *Model FMC *College romance
*Revenge plan *FMC doesn't know love *found family *pop culture mentions
*State Challenge Mass (repeat)
August 5, 2026
Huge thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and Lena Knight for the ALC of Averted, the first book in the Brick-ed series!
The narration by Andi Eloise and Caden Hart was so good. They brought the characters to life and made it easy to get completely wrapped up in everything that was happening. They really pulled me into the story and all the emotions.
I really enjoyed this one! It's a romance, but it's also packed with suspense, danger, trauma, and chaos, which kept me hooked the whole time.
Sabrina the FMC was born into money, but she's smart, brave, and has just the right amount of sass. She's determined to take down some of the most powerful people for the terrible things they've done (Even the ones very close to her), and I loved watching her fight for what she believed in even if pusing Matteo away was annoying lol.
Then there's Matteo the MMC. the motorcycle-riding bad boy who is somehow also the sweetest guy ever. The chemistry between him and Sabrina was fantastic, and the spice definitely did not disappoint!
One of my favorite parts, though, was the found-family aspect. It added so much heart to the story and balanced it all out very well.
If you're looking for a romance with a sweet-but-bad-boy MMC, a strong and determined FMC, plenty of suspense, some great spicy moments, and an amazing found family, I'd definitely recommend giving Averted a try!
The narration by Andi Eloise and Caden Hart was so good. They brought the characters to life and made it easy to get completely wrapped up in everything that was happening. They really pulled me into the story and all the emotions.
I really enjoyed this one! It's a romance, but it's also packed with suspense, danger, trauma, and chaos, which kept me hooked the whole time.
Sabrina the FMC was born into money, but she's smart, brave, and has just the right amount of sass. She's determined to take down some of the most powerful people for the terrible things they've done (Even the ones very close to her), and I loved watching her fight for what she believed in even if pusing Matteo away was annoying lol.
Then there's Matteo the MMC. the motorcycle-riding bad boy who is somehow also the sweetest guy ever. The chemistry between him and Sabrina was fantastic, and the spice definitely did not disappoint!
One of my favorite parts, though, was the found-family aspect. It added so much heart to the story and balanced it all out very well.
If you're looking for a romance with a sweet-but-bad-boy MMC, a strong and determined FMC, plenty of suspense, some great spicy moments, and an amazing found family, I'd definitely recommend giving Averted a try!
August 4, 2026
I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.
Sabrina has been the center of the public eye since she was born, even now as a model she is constantly watched. But Sabrina is done with her family’s drama, going so far as to try and tear her corrupt father down from within. And then she meets Mateo. Suddenly things get complicated when she didn’t need them to be any more complicated. Because Sabrina is determined to take down her father, and she has no intention of bringing someone else into the mix.
I liked this. We had a meet–cute moment with him on a motorcycle and her in her jeep that I thought was really sweet, and while I thought this was going in one direction, it was refreshing to see things turn out very differently. The spice was spicing, let me tell you, and I enjoyed those moments between them. The back and forth of her conflicting feelings towards Mateo got on my nerves after a while because like dang girl, just give in to it already! But I also get where she was coming from. I liked the plot and the way things unraveled. There were a LOT of characters to remember (apparently they’re from another series? But I didn’t read them so I can’t tell you if it would’ve helped or not), but overall I enjoyed this one.
Sabrina has been the center of the public eye since she was born, even now as a model she is constantly watched. But Sabrina is done with her family’s drama, going so far as to try and tear her corrupt father down from within. And then she meets Mateo. Suddenly things get complicated when she didn’t need them to be any more complicated. Because Sabrina is determined to take down her father, and she has no intention of bringing someone else into the mix.
I liked this. We had a meet–cute moment with him on a motorcycle and her in her jeep that I thought was really sweet, and while I thought this was going in one direction, it was refreshing to see things turn out very differently. The spice was spicing, let me tell you, and I enjoyed those moments between them. The back and forth of her conflicting feelings towards Mateo got on my nerves after a while because like dang girl, just give in to it already! But I also get where she was coming from. I liked the plot and the way things unraveled. There were a LOT of characters to remember (apparently they’re from another series? But I didn’t read them so I can’t tell you if it would’ve helped or not), but overall I enjoyed this one.
August 26, 2026
This was a fun audiobook with just enough drama and mystery to keep me listening.
I really liked Sabrina and Mateo. Mateo has the “falls first” and “falls hard” energy. He isn’t about to let her go for any reason. Sabrina is a model who has nothing but revenge on her mind until she meets Mateo. There was a great mix of sweet moments, tension, and spice. There is also a really great found family element that added to the story and gave them relationships outside of their story that I enjoyed.
Even though I enjoyed the outside relationships, there were a few times where the amount of characters and everything happening around the main story made things feel a little busy for me, but not to a point where I wanted to stop listening. Mama Eva was a fantastic side character. She’s just an amazing human being and she’s raised some pretty good human beings.
Andi Eloise and Caden Hart did fantastic. They handled the different personalities perfectly. Listening to them made the plot come to life.
This was a great listen and I hope we get to spend some more time with some of brothers. I’m definitely excited to see where this series goes.
Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op and Lena Knight for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
I really liked Sabrina and Mateo. Mateo has the “falls first” and “falls hard” energy. He isn’t about to let her go for any reason. Sabrina is a model who has nothing but revenge on her mind until she meets Mateo. There was a great mix of sweet moments, tension, and spice. There is also a really great found family element that added to the story and gave them relationships outside of their story that I enjoyed.
Even though I enjoyed the outside relationships, there were a few times where the amount of characters and everything happening around the main story made things feel a little busy for me, but not to a point where I wanted to stop listening. Mama Eva was a fantastic side character. She’s just an amazing human being and she’s raised some pretty good human beings.
Andi Eloise and Caden Hart did fantastic. They handled the different personalities perfectly. Listening to them made the plot come to life.
This was a great listen and I hope we get to spend some more time with some of brothers. I’m definitely excited to see where this series goes.
Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op and Lena Knight for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
November 27, 2025
This was an engaging story with a charming meet-cute at its heart. The female lead, Sabrina, raised in privilege but without much warmth from her parents or home life, brought an interesting contrast to the narrative. Her background added depth to the romance.
Mateo stood out as one of the most compelling characters. Though portrayed as young and in college, his maturity was shaped by the circumstances of his upbringing. He managed to be both soft and sensitive, yet undeniably strong—a balance that made him feel real and relatable.
My favorite character, however, was Eva, affectionately known as “Mama.” She radiated wisdom, resilience, and love, and presence. I would love to see an entire book dedicated to her life story because it feels like she has so much more to share.
Overall, this was a good story with memorable characters and heartfelt moments. My only critique is that the cast was quite large, at times almost too many, which occasionally made it harder to stay focused on the central relationships. Still, the warmth and emotional depth carried the book through beautifully.
Mateo stood out as one of the most compelling characters. Though portrayed as young and in college, his maturity was shaped by the circumstances of his upbringing. He managed to be both soft and sensitive, yet undeniably strong—a balance that made him feel real and relatable.
My favorite character, however, was Eva, affectionately known as “Mama.” She radiated wisdom, resilience, and love, and presence. I would love to see an entire book dedicated to her life story because it feels like she has so much more to share.
Overall, this was a good story with memorable characters and heartfelt moments. My only critique is that the cast was quite large, at times almost too many, which occasionally made it harder to stay focused on the central relationships. Still, the warmth and emotional depth carried the book through beautifully.
July 27, 2026
🎧 Well… this was a pleasant surprise.
You all know I’m incapable of saying no to Andie Eloise, Caden Hart and Bluenose Audio… so let’s not pretend I wasn’t already halfway through downloading it before I’d even finished the blurb. 😂
New-to-me author? ✔️
Another ALC I definitely didn’t need? ✔️
Any regrets? Absolutely none.
Averted by Lena Knight completely pulled me in.
Mateo? Oh, I adored him. A biker with the patience of a saint, a huge heart, and enough determination to wear down Sabrina’s sky-high walls one brick at a time. He was impossible not to root for.
And Mama Eva? Excuse me while I start a petition for her own book because she quietly stole every single scene she was in. ❤️
Yes, there are quite a few characters (my menopausal brain occasionally had to do a quick roll call 🤣), but underneath it all is a genuinely heartfelt story about finding your people, letting yourself be loved, and realising family isn’t always about blood.
Andie Eloise and Caden Hart were brilliant together and made every character feel distinct.
Safe to say… this “I’ll just give it a go” ALC turned into one I’m really glad I pressed play on. 🎧💙
You all know I’m incapable of saying no to Andie Eloise, Caden Hart and Bluenose Audio… so let’s not pretend I wasn’t already halfway through downloading it before I’d even finished the blurb. 😂
New-to-me author? ✔️
Another ALC I definitely didn’t need? ✔️
Any regrets? Absolutely none.
Averted by Lena Knight completely pulled me in.
Mateo? Oh, I adored him. A biker with the patience of a saint, a huge heart, and enough determination to wear down Sabrina’s sky-high walls one brick at a time. He was impossible not to root for.
And Mama Eva? Excuse me while I start a petition for her own book because she quietly stole every single scene she was in. ❤️
Yes, there are quite a few characters (my menopausal brain occasionally had to do a quick roll call 🤣), but underneath it all is a genuinely heartfelt story about finding your people, letting yourself be loved, and realising family isn’t always about blood.
Andie Eloise and Caden Hart were brilliant together and made every character feel distinct.
Safe to say… this “I’ll just give it a go” ALC turned into one I’m really glad I pressed play on. 🎧💙
August 1, 2026
Thank you to the author for the ALC for the audio release!
If you like contemporary romance, this one’s for you!
There’s found family, he falls first, a forbidden romance, and Ravenhood references 🥰
Our FMC (sabrina) is trying to bring her corrupt father down with the aid of a brother from another mother that she didn’t know existed till recently. Her family is rich and powerful, and she’s a model for the families fashion empire.
Mateo grew up in foster care and eventually found his family with his bio brother, a few other guys, and a loving woman who became their mom even though they’d aged out of the system. The relationship the boys have with their mom is so sweet! They even have a weekly family book club ❤️
Basically, Sabrina’s parents expect her to only be with guys up to their standard. She pushes Mateo away off and on throughout the book to keep him out of danger and out of her way while she tries to take down her father.
I don’t want to give anything away, but just read it (or listen! The audio is very good!)
I’ll for sure be reading the 2nd book in the Brick-ed series (Anticipated)
If you like contemporary romance, this one’s for you!
There’s found family, he falls first, a forbidden romance, and Ravenhood references 🥰
Our FMC (sabrina) is trying to bring her corrupt father down with the aid of a brother from another mother that she didn’t know existed till recently. Her family is rich and powerful, and she’s a model for the families fashion empire.
Mateo grew up in foster care and eventually found his family with his bio brother, a few other guys, and a loving woman who became their mom even though they’d aged out of the system. The relationship the boys have with their mom is so sweet! They even have a weekly family book club ❤️
Basically, Sabrina’s parents expect her to only be with guys up to their standard. She pushes Mateo away off and on throughout the book to keep him out of danger and out of her way while she tries to take down her father.
I don’t want to give anything away, but just read it (or listen! The audio is very good!)
I’ll for sure be reading the 2nd book in the Brick-ed series (Anticipated)
August 5, 2026
ALC review
Rounded up from 3.5 stars
This book follows Sabrina, a woman was raised privileged and who is trying to bring her father down. She is doing that with the help of her brother. She meets Mateo, a boy who grew up in the foster system. They have instant chemistry and it complicates everything for Sabrina.
The whole good girl turned bad and the motor riding bad boy who is actually really sweet vibes in this book were fun to read.
The family bond in this book was a beautiful standout aspect and I mean that in the most broad way.
I had a couple of times that the book seemed to make a jump that I couldn't follow chronological, after that it took a minute to get back into the book.
I did enjoy the book. It was full of suspense and kept me on the edge of my chair.
Audiobook – 5 stars
The audio book was narrated by Andi Eloise and Caden Hart. These two did an excellent job. With so many characters in a book it must have been hard to make small distinctions to their voices to keep them apart. Furthermore I loved how these two managed to make you feel all the feelings by just listening to their voices.
Rounded up from 3.5 stars
This book follows Sabrina, a woman was raised privileged and who is trying to bring her father down. She is doing that with the help of her brother. She meets Mateo, a boy who grew up in the foster system. They have instant chemistry and it complicates everything for Sabrina.
The whole good girl turned bad and the motor riding bad boy who is actually really sweet vibes in this book were fun to read.
The family bond in this book was a beautiful standout aspect and I mean that in the most broad way.
I had a couple of times that the book seemed to make a jump that I couldn't follow chronological, after that it took a minute to get back into the book.
I did enjoy the book. It was full of suspense and kept me on the edge of my chair.
Audiobook – 5 stars
The audio book was narrated by Andi Eloise and Caden Hart. These two did an excellent job. With so many characters in a book it must have been hard to make small distinctions to their voices to keep them apart. Furthermore I loved how these two managed to make you feel all the feelings by just listening to their voices.
June 5, 2026
If Lena writes it, I'm going to read it.
This is my favorite book by this author so far. I was completely invested in the characters and their journey.
Sabrina brought so much depth to the story. Despite growing up with privilege, she lacked the love and support she deserved, which made her struggles feel authentic and relatable. Mateo was an incredible hero. He is kind, mature, and emotionally strong without losing his softer side.
What really elevated this story for me was the family element. The bond between the foster brothers and the love they had for one another brought so much heart to the book. Their relationships felt genuine and added an extra layer of warmth and emotion that made the story even more special. Sabrina's family is horrible and I was so happy that Mateo's family pretty much adopted her into their fold. This story really brought out all my feels.
Overall, this was a heartfelt, character-driven romance filled with emotional depth and memorable relationships. It was hard to put this book down so I could get enough sleep for work.
This is my favorite book by this author so far. I was completely invested in the characters and their journey.
Sabrina brought so much depth to the story. Despite growing up with privilege, she lacked the love and support she deserved, which made her struggles feel authentic and relatable. Mateo was an incredible hero. He is kind, mature, and emotionally strong without losing his softer side.
What really elevated this story for me was the family element. The bond between the foster brothers and the love they had for one another brought so much heart to the book. Their relationships felt genuine and added an extra layer of warmth and emotion that made the story even more special. Sabrina's family is horrible and I was so happy that Mateo's family pretty much adopted her into their fold. This story really brought out all my feels.
Overall, this was a heartfelt, character-driven romance filled with emotional depth and memorable relationships. It was hard to put this book down so I could get enough sleep for work.
September 28, 2026
✨ AUDIOBOOK & EBOOK REVIEW ✨
I devoured this book in one day and really enjoyed reading about Sabrina & Mateo’s story.
I love how Mateo was able to break down the walls around Sabrina’s heart and teach her what love really is. She definitely didn’t make it easy but with the way she was raised, it was totally understandable.
Sabrina is such a strong and fierce FMC and I love her side quest of getting justice.
Ohhh and I adore the Hart family & mama Hart is the sweetest!! I’m such a goner for the found family trope and this book hits the mark when it comes to that trope.
🎧 The audiobook is performed in duet narration by Andi Eloise & Caden Hart. They both did a beautiful job bringing the characters to life and making the experience completely immersive while listening. They delivered on the banter and chemistry but also gave us all the feels with their performance!
Rating: 4 ⭐️
Spice: 2.5 🌶️
Audio: 5🎧
Audiobook Format: Duet Narration
TROPES
🔥 Forbidden Romance
🔥 He Falls First
🔥 Fierce FMC Fighting for Justice
🔥 Revenge Plot
🔥 Found Family
🔥 Biker MMC x Model FMC
🔥 Both Drive Motorcycles
🔥 Opposites Attract
🔥 Dual POV
Thank you to Lena Knight for the advanced copy of the audiobook. All bookish thoughts are my own.
I devoured this book in one day and really enjoyed reading about Sabrina & Mateo’s story.
I love how Mateo was able to break down the walls around Sabrina’s heart and teach her what love really is. She definitely didn’t make it easy but with the way she was raised, it was totally understandable.
Sabrina is such a strong and fierce FMC and I love her side quest of getting justice.
Ohhh and I adore the Hart family & mama Hart is the sweetest!! I’m such a goner for the found family trope and this book hits the mark when it comes to that trope.
🎧 The audiobook is performed in duet narration by Andi Eloise & Caden Hart. They both did a beautiful job bringing the characters to life and making the experience completely immersive while listening. They delivered on the banter and chemistry but also gave us all the feels with their performance!
Rating: 4 ⭐️
Spice: 2.5 🌶️
Audio: 5🎧
Audiobook Format: Duet Narration
TROPES
🔥 Forbidden Romance
🔥 He Falls First
🔥 Fierce FMC Fighting for Justice
🔥 Revenge Plot
🔥 Found Family
🔥 Biker MMC x Model FMC
🔥 Both Drive Motorcycles
🔥 Opposites Attract
🔥 Dual POV
Thank you to Lena Knight for the advanced copy of the audiobook. All bookish thoughts are my own.
July 30, 2026
He falls first
Forbidden romance
Revenge plot
Found family
Dual POV - 1st person
Duet narration - Andi Eloise & Caden Hart
Fabulous narration performance. These two are wonderful together!
Book #1 Brick-ed series
I went into this blind. The narrators and a little bit of the description drew me into it and I was not disappointed one bit! My first book by Lena Knight and I can say without a doubt that I am a fan. This book is both captivating and heartwarming. We have Sabrina a bada$$ out for revenge on her horrible parents as our FMC and sweet Mateo an adopted engineering student that also rides a motorcycle as our MMC.
These two have instant chemistry and Mateo falls first and hard. Sabrina tries to fight the pull that she feels towards Mateo but a girl can only resist so much.
Overall, I enjoyed the plot, the strong relationships, the found family, and the spice. The characters are just adorable and I can not wait for more in this series!
Forbidden romance
Revenge plot
Found family
Dual POV - 1st person
Duet narration - Andi Eloise & Caden Hart
Fabulous narration performance. These two are wonderful together!
Book #1 Brick-ed series
I went into this blind. The narrators and a little bit of the description drew me into it and I was not disappointed one bit! My first book by Lena Knight and I can say without a doubt that I am a fan. This book is both captivating and heartwarming. We have Sabrina a bada$$ out for revenge on her horrible parents as our FMC and sweet Mateo an adopted engineering student that also rides a motorcycle as our MMC.
These two have instant chemistry and Mateo falls first and hard. Sabrina tries to fight the pull that she feels towards Mateo but a girl can only resist so much.
Overall, I enjoyed the plot, the strong relationships, the found family, and the spice. The characters are just adorable and I can not wait for more in this series!
August 27, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and Lena Knight for the opportunity to do the ALC of Averted!
First, let's talk about the story. This is a romance that's also action-packed and high concept. It's not a contemporary, day in the life kind of read and I really appreciate that. The attraction between our characters hits hard and fast, and they stay hooked on each other even when circumstances may be trying to pull them apart.
Lena has a unique voice as an author that I really enjoyed reading, and any Ravenhood fans in here will get a kick out of some of the Easter eggs that pay homage to that series. End of.
As for the audio, the production and performance was fantastic. I'd expect nothing less from Blue Nose Audio, Andi Eloise, and Caden Hart. Really exceptional work here. The book has been on my TBR for a long time but I'm so glad I waited for the audio. It really took it to the next level!
First, let's talk about the story. This is a romance that's also action-packed and high concept. It's not a contemporary, day in the life kind of read and I really appreciate that. The attraction between our characters hits hard and fast, and they stay hooked on each other even when circumstances may be trying to pull them apart.
Lena has a unique voice as an author that I really enjoyed reading, and any Ravenhood fans in here will get a kick out of some of the Easter eggs that pay homage to that series. End of.
As for the audio, the production and performance was fantastic. I'd expect nothing less from Blue Nose Audio, Andi Eloise, and Caden Hart. Really exceptional work here. The book has been on my TBR for a long time but I'm so glad I waited for the audio. It really took it to the next level!
August 12, 2026
Averted is a captivating story about a young woman seeking justice and the family she Metis along the way. Sabrina is trying to obtain enough evidence to convict her father of several crimes. This is her mission and sole purpose. However, things change when she meets Mateo. What happens between these star crossed lovers?
The duet performance by Andi Eloise and Caden Hart was phenomenal. Andi Eloise was spectacular as beautiful, privileged model Sabrina. She was great at trying to hide her emotions but… I could feel her hurt, pain, uncertainty, strength, sass, determination and love through her voice. Caden Hart was superb as sweet, kind, compassionate , obsessed, possessive motorcycle riding Mateo. I highly recommend listening to this audiobook.
Thanks to the author for this ALC.
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Story 4 stars Narration 5 stars
The duet performance by Andi Eloise and Caden Hart was phenomenal. Andi Eloise was spectacular as beautiful, privileged model Sabrina. She was great at trying to hide her emotions but… I could feel her hurt, pain, uncertainty, strength, sass, determination and love through her voice. Caden Hart was superb as sweet, kind, compassionate , obsessed, possessive motorcycle riding Mateo. I highly recommend listening to this audiobook.
Thanks to the author for this ALC.
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Story 4 stars Narration 5 stars
September 20, 2026
3 1/2 stars. Firstly, I loved the duet narration. I know it's a cost thing, but it is by far a better listen when only one narrator plays that character's lines. This was done well and flowed beautifully.
I love a good revenge plot and the set-up had my attention. The characters were developed nicely and their romance was sweet, but I didn't LOVE their romance. I wanted a bit more of them together, more moments showing us why we should be cheering them on. The side characters got a lot of airtime and I can't help wondering if it was laying the groundwork for future books in the series. That's fine but make us fall in love with these ones first.
Overall, a good solid story with a nice romance and excellent narration. Just missing that extra spark that would’ve pushed it higher for me.
I love a good revenge plot and the set-up had my attention. The characters were developed nicely and their romance was sweet, but I didn't LOVE their romance. I wanted a bit more of them together, more moments showing us why we should be cheering them on. The side characters got a lot of airtime and I can't help wondering if it was laying the groundwork for future books in the series. That's fine but make us fall in love with these ones first.
Overall, a good solid story with a nice romance and excellent narration. Just missing that extra spark that would’ve pushed it higher for me.
July 30, 2026
Averted by Lena Knight was one of those books that crept up on me and put a huge smile on my face. This was an ALC. Performed in Duet- the narrators are Andi Eloise and Caden Hart. These two were perfect for this story. You could feel all the emotions from them.
Sabrina, the rich, pretty, famous entitled woman meets Mateo the handsome, down to earth, straight shooter. Their connection is instant. She the vigilante who is trying take down her father. Mateo falls hard for Sabrina and wants to help her and is there for her no matter what. You truly see the struggle in Sabrina in bringing down her walls and letting Mateo in. Mateo is all love. He has a found family that is nothing but support and love which he brings to Sabrina. This is a very sweet romance.
Sabrina, the rich, pretty, famous entitled woman meets Mateo the handsome, down to earth, straight shooter. Their connection is instant. She the vigilante who is trying take down her father. Mateo falls hard for Sabrina and wants to help her and is there for her no matter what. You truly see the struggle in Sabrina in bringing down her walls and letting Mateo in. Mateo is all love. He has a found family that is nothing but support and love which he brings to Sabrina. This is a very sweet romance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2026
The attraction, the chemistry, the push and pull between Sabrina and Mateo was so good. And the spice was spicin. I loved the characters and the strong family bond of MMC’s family. They loved and supported one another and always had each others back. Their family book club and the mentions of one of my favorite series, The Ravenhood, throughout… Yeah, I loved this one.
Andi Eloise and Caden Heart done amazing voicing the characters and bringing the story to life. Their voices complemented each other so well and they delivered the emotions of the characters in a way you could hear and feel. They did a great job 👏
Story 4 ⭐️’s
Narration 5 ⭐️’s
Spice 2.5 🌶️’s
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ALC!
Andi Eloise and Caden Heart done amazing voicing the characters and bringing the story to life. Their voices complemented each other so well and they delivered the emotions of the characters in a way you could hear and feel. They did a great job 👏
Story 4 ⭐️’s
Narration 5 ⭐️’s
Spice 2.5 🌶️’s
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ALC!
November 24, 2025
Averted by Lena Knight is a gripping, character-driven story that pulls you in from the very first chapter. Knight blends emotional tension with sharp, high-stakes twists, creating a narrative that feels both intimate and cinematic. The pacing is tight, the worldbuilding vivid, and the moral dilemmas at the heart of the story linger long after you turn the final page.
What really stands out is Knight’s ability to write flawed, compelling characters whose choices feel real—and whose struggles keep you rooting for them even when the path gets dark.
If you enjoy thoughtful, fast-paced speculative fiction with plenty of heart, Averted is absolutely worth the read.
What really stands out is Knight’s ability to write flawed, compelling characters whose choices feel real—and whose struggles keep you rooting for them even when the path gets dark.
If you enjoy thoughtful, fast-paced speculative fiction with plenty of heart, Averted is absolutely worth the read.
July 29, 2026
I really wanted to give this book 4.5 stars.
I LOVED Mateo and Sabrina.
Sabrina the badass lawyer who is on a warpath to take down her father that she thought she knew.
Mateo the biker that walks into Sabrina’s life and flips her life upside down. Not only is he smart and very family oriented.
I really loved how obsessed the two of them were and how everything played out. I really really want a book about Aria and hope that comes soon.
Thank you for giving me this ALC I really enjoyed ever since Ravenshood reference, how the family had book club and how Sabrina was a book girlie as well.
I LOVED Mateo and Sabrina.
Sabrina the badass lawyer who is on a warpath to take down her father that she thought she knew.
Mateo the biker that walks into Sabrina’s life and flips her life upside down. Not only is he smart and very family oriented.
I really loved how obsessed the two of them were and how everything played out. I really really want a book about Aria and hope that comes soon.
Thank you for giving me this ALC I really enjoyed ever since Ravenshood reference, how the family had book club and how Sabrina was a book girlie as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2026
Thank you Lena for giving me the opportunity to listen to Averted (ALC).
I loved this audiobook! The story kept me so interested that I listened to it all in one sitting (staying up past 4:00 AM). If you enjoy reading works like The Count of Monte Cristo or The Ravenhood series, you’ll enjoy this. I loved all the nods to other works, and the growth of the FMC was wonderful. The love story was sweet and pure; the found family aspect was heartwarming.
If it has Andi Eloise narrating, it’s an automatic listen for me! She was phenomenal and put such heart and emotion into all her characters. This was my first time listening to Caden Hart, and he really brought all the male characters to life.
I loved this audiobook! The story kept me so interested that I listened to it all in one sitting (staying up past 4:00 AM). If you enjoy reading works like The Count of Monte Cristo or The Ravenhood series, you’ll enjoy this. I loved all the nods to other works, and the growth of the FMC was wonderful. The love story was sweet and pure; the found family aspect was heartwarming.
If it has Andi Eloise narrating, it’s an automatic listen for me! She was phenomenal and put such heart and emotion into all her characters. This was my first time listening to Caden Hart, and he really brought all the male characters to life.
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