What If You & Me

WHAT IF YOU AND ME is the second instalment in Roni Loren’s contemporary, adult SAY EVERYTHING erotic, romance series. This is thirty-one year old, former firefighter Hill Dawson, and author/podcaster Andi Lockley’s story line. WHAT IF YOU AND ME can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Told from dual third person perspectives (Andi and Hill) WHAT IF YOU AND ME follows the neighbors/friends with benefits relationship between thirty-one year old, former firefighter Hill Dawson, and horror author/podcaster Andi Lockley. Approximately two years earlier Hill Dawson’s life as a fire-fighter ended when a work place accident ended his career leaving Hill struggling with depression and something to do. Meeting his new neighbor/tenant gave Hill thoughts he had long forgotten, since he discovered his fiancée in love with another man but his spunky next door neighbor offered a reprieve from his thoughts, thoughts that continued to stray on what was and what will never be. Andi Lockley is a horror author, and podcaster about murdered and missing people, and in this Andi had some experience when it comes to the frightening reality about what it is she talks. Falling for her neighbor was never on the agenda but a friendship with benefits relationship would quickly turn into something more, something of which Hill wanted nothing to do. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Andi and Hill, and the potential fall-out as Hill pushes Andi out of his life, just as Andi’s life is about to implode. Andi and Hill are both dealing with the trauma of past events, and in this, the past continues to affect the present and the future. Hill and Andi both agreed neither one was ready to settle down but Andi was the first to fall, and Hill wasn’t ready to pick up the pieces. A disastrous prior relationship for both has caused both physical and emotional scars but Hill refuses to accept that he is the man for our heroine, believing he is a place holder for someone more to come. The relationship between Andi and Hill is a neighbors/friends with benefits that turns into something more. From podcasting to writing, cooking to a Firefighter’s auction, our couple find themselves celebrating the little things in life, things that detract from the terror that was once their lives. As Andi slowly falls for her firefighter hero, Hill begins to pull back just as Andi’s life spirals out of control. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. We are introduced to Hill’s fellow firefighter and friend Ramsey, Andi’s friends and therapist Eliz, Hill’s ex-fiancee Christine, as well as the return of Hollyn and Jasper (YES AND I LOVE YOU #1). WHAT IF YOU AND ME is a story of betrayal and loss with a sassy and determined heroine, and a sometimes miserable hero who believes himself too broken to move forward. The premise is emotional and edgy; the romance is energetic and intense; the characters are tragic, animated and inspiring.

I absolutely loved this audiobook. Andi Lockley, a horror story author, has a past that has kept her from having any relationships with the opposite sex. Hill Dawson, is a former firefighter that is considered a hero, but truly is a man that lost not only part of his leg during the last rescue , but was also dumped at that time by his fiancee. Depression is his companion. They are neighbors that meet when he thinks she’s in danger. From then on, a friendship develops, and as each opens their hearts, feelings develop. Both afraid to take it further. But what happens when one of them is ready, while the other one doesn’t think it’s possible. Add to that an unexpected turn of events, and you wonder, will that make them realize that they truly are perfect for each other? This is a touching, at times heartbreaking as well as heartwarming story with characters you will fall in love with. I would like to add that the narrator, Desiree Ketchum did an excellent job with the voices. I was entrusted a copy of this audiobook by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are soley my own.

Fan-yourself-and-find-the-smelling-salts swoonworthy! I love it when I find a new-to-me author whose writing style is completely fresh and unique. Roni Loren writes her characters with a delightfully witty, sometimes snarky voice and I am totally here for it. This is one author's catalog that I'm going to be spending a lot of time in. Hill and Andi both have had to deal with trauma, and they are both coping and recovering in their own inimitable way. I really enjoyed the depth and detail we're given about what they went through and how those events affected them in ways that they never saw coming. As an examination of PTSD, from both emotional and physical trauma, this book is a must-read and is one of the best I've ever read. I love the way they start off as friends, how pushy she can be, and how he goes out of his way to be a safe space for her. Their intimate scenes were among the hottest I've ever read while being honest and sensitive to the issues at hand. Every thing about this book was absolute perfection and I couldn't have loved it more. I love how this story made the point about how thin the line is between romance and horror. I'd never looked at it that way before. And now I'm going to have to go watch that Jamie Lee Curtis movie. The HEA was so beautiful, so sweet and tender, and exactly right for these two. This is a fantastic romance, with just a dash of suspense and intrigue, and I highly recommend it for all romance readers. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.