Destiny Shines

Santini Series, Book 3

De: Leslie Pike

Narrado por: Lucy Rivers, Lee Samuels

NIKOS

It takes everything I have not to keep touching her whenever we’re together. But the pull is more than physical.

We barely know each other, but I know there’s something calling me to her. Surprisingly, it’s not about what I can see. When I’m with her, I see myself differently.

I thought I knew a lot about women, but Jenny’s a masterclass.

JENNY

I may be going to hell for thinking about it in church, but for the first time in my life I’m obsessed with the physical. It’s Nikos’ fault.

Who else would want to recreate the iconic dance in Dirty Dancing… naked. The man has imagination.

I’m going to ignore the fact he isn’t my type, because it was worth going off brand.

Something tells me I’m onto something good.

©2018 Leslie Pike (P)2025 Leslie Pike

Good

Nikos and Jenn

3.5*

Cute, funny and short
I listened to the audio book.
The narrators did a good job.
Nikos is the dancer who lives in Vegas and Jenn is his dad's PT when he hurt his ankle and he comes home to help take care of him.
Favorite part the Dirty Dancing scene my favorite movie.
I do wish it was longer I thought it was a little too short.
I also like that each member has a theme party for their big birthdays and the banter between the siblings.

Oh, Nikos....

We finally get Nikos’s story—and it was so worth the wait! Having met him in earlier Santini books as a bit of a charming playboy, I was intrigued whenever he popped up. There was always something about him that hinted at more beneath the surface, and Destiny Shines gives finally gives us that glimpse.

Nikos is a professional dancer in Las Vegas, but when his aging father breaks his leg, he returns to St. Helena to help out. Enter Jenny, the physical therapist hired to care for his dad. Their connection is immediate, and Leslie Pike takes the insta-love trope and weaves it into something that feels refreshing and real. The chemistry between Nikos and Jenny is electric from the start, and as their bond deepens, so does the emotional weight of the story.
The long-distance element adds a real-world layer of tension, and it raises the stakes in a way that feels incredibly relatable. Leslie Pike pours so much heart into every scene, and the narration by Lee Samuels and Lucy Rivers elevates it even further. They breathe life into these characters, making every flirtation, every doubt, and every declaration feel all the more real.
The story begins with heat but gradually transitions into something tender and profound. And the epilogue, one of the biggest time jumps I’ve ever seen, is the perfect conclusion to Nikos and Jenny’s journey.
Dare I say.this might just be my favorite book in the Santini series!

Fast, Flirty, and Full of Feels!

Destiny Shines gives us Nikos’ story the youngest Santini brother, full of charm and mischief. We’ve gotten glimpses of him in the earlier books, but here he takes center stage. He’s a dancer living it up in Vegas until family duty calls him home, where he meets Jenny, his father’s physical therapist.

Jenny tries to keep it professional, but Nikos is persistent and impossible to ignore. Their relationship moves fast, it’s definitely a whirlwind but it also feels genuine. I liked how she grounded him and helped him slow down from the flashy lifestyle he was used to.

There’s plenty of chemistry, sweet moments, and even a Dirty Dancing nod that made me grin. And the narration? Fantastic. Lucy Rivers and Lee Samuels bring such life and heart to these characters, it’s always a treat hearing them perform together.

A solid addition to the Santini Series, and I’m excited to see what comes next for this family!

A Splendid Story & Listen🎧Delightful & Heartfelt!

I’m completely hooked on Leslie Pike’s “Santini” series—each book features a different Santini brother and is as wonderful as the last. This third book is Nikos, the youngest Santini’s story, and he is definitely living it up and partying hard in Las Vegas, where he works as a backup dancer. After his father’s accident, his mother called asking him to come home and help, and because he was in between jobs, Nikos went back home. Jenny Doyle, a physical therapist, is dating a paster, but has a lackluster love life, no thanks to his beliefs to not get intimate until they are married. Then she meets him, her new patient, Mr. Santini’s son, Nikos, and the chemistry between them is electric and truly shines. It was great to watch Nikos fall for Jenny, also great to see him re-evaluate his life choices and Jenny has to do the same. This novella sized book packs a well plotted, multi-layered story, and I loved watching it all unfold. It is always great to spend time with the Santini’s and I adored the direction Pike took her characters in the end and in the future, and that epilogue was amazing!! Leslie Pike, thank you for another wonderful story and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧 Lucy Rivers and Lee Samuels continue to do an amazing job bringing these characters to life, giving each a voice that is fitting for a perfect portrayal of each. Rivers was a natural in Jenny’s role, grasped her personality and demeanor perfectly, from her insecurities to her confidence, and all in between. Samuels did the same in Nikos’ role, showcasing his playfulness and then his caring side, and was great with his inner thoughts too. Both were fantastic performing the roles of the secondary/side characters too. These two are entertaining storytellers and their performance not only takes the story to another level, but it keeps you riveted to the story.

4.5 Shining Stars!

I have been waiting for Nikos story and he did not disappoint! Nikos is the youngest and wildest in the loving Santini family. He is living an untamed life in the world of a Las Vegas dancer. When he received a call to come home to care for his dad after an accident, he was not happy. He soon finds a diversion in his fathers Physical Therapist, Jenny. Jenny has a natural sweet and sexy appearance but Niko sees a wild side just below the surface, and is determined to set it free. Jenny is so tempted by the sexy dancer but doesn't mix business with pleasure. When Niko breaks thru her walls and their passion is combustible will it burn them both?
I am so happy that Lee Samuels & Lucy Rivers continue to narrate this series. I loved the way they developed and expressed these characters, making them come alive, and making me care for them, and cheer for their HEA. I loved this is fun, heartwarming, sexy addition to the Santini family saga.

Fantastic Love Story with Outstanding Narrator

Destiny Shines (aka The Little A-hole Falls in Love) is the third audiobook in Leslie Pike’s fantastic Santini series. Nikos Santini, the baby of the Santini family who they affectionately call “little a-hole,” is living a fast and reckless life in Vegas as an aging professional dancer. He absolutely does not want to temporarily leave that life to go home and help care for his injured father, but as a Santini, family always comes first. The last thing he expects is to be completely enamored with his father’s physical therapist. Despite her not wanting to mix business with pleasure, the two are drawn together. And as much as they both fight against it, feelings develop on both sides. But overcoming their obstacles and listening to their hearts over their minds is much easier said than done. Their love story is sweet, heartbreaking, hopeful, romantic, and completely captivating. I loved every single step of their journey to a very satisfying HEA. And this story has one of the best epilogues I have ever come across. I dare you not to come away from it grinning like a loon. I cannot wait for the fourth book to come out in audio!

And the dual-style narration from Lucy Rivers and Lee Samuels is, as always, truly outstanding! Lucy Rivers captures Jenny’s personality and her struggle to trust her heart perfectly. You can’t help but feel all of those emotions right along with the character. And Lee Samuels’ portrayal of Nikos is absolutely spot on, projecting the deeply passionate nature of this character along with his inner conflict to allow himself to love Jenny fully and to face the reality of a different life than he’d always imagined for himself. As with Lucy’s performance, you feel every word right down to your core. Both of these incredible voice actors go above and beyond to bring this enchanting love story to life.

Steamy and Sweet

Nikos and Jenny

This may be my favorite of the series. Bad boy Nikos is home from Vegas helping take care of his dad, only to fall for his dad’s physical therapist. I loved watching Jenny find herself throughout this story, and she was the perfect woman to tame Niko. His struggles were deeper than in the other stories, and I really enjoyed getting to know the true Nikos. Having Jenny by his side was exactly what he needed.

The setting in each book made this experience even sweeter, and the localness I felt from a town in close proximity to where I live warmed my heart.
Each book is a standalone, but the family aspect in Leslie’s stories is something I love most. With each novella averaging around 2 hours, I recommend bingeing the entire series.
They are feel-good, sweet, sexy, and from the heart.

Thank you, Lara, for gifting me these audios.

loving this series

Destiny Shines takes us back to St. Helena and to the Santini family! This is book 3 in the Santini series - it can be read as a standalone! I loved seeing the "bad boy" of the Santini family with Nikos' story! His attraction with Jenny is instantaneous and I love their chemistry! I also really enjoyed that this was a little more angsty!

Destiny Shines is narrated in dual by Lee Samuels & Lucy Rivers and was such a cute novella to listen to! They both did a fabulous job at making this easy to listen to and enjoy! I've been loving the audios of this series!

Destiny Shines

Nikos and Jenny might be my favorite couple in the Santini Series. Leslie Pike has written another beautiful novella with all the love and passion a reader could ask for. Lee Samuels and Lucy Rivers are perfection in this series and have made each character unique in each audiobook.

Leslie Pike’s books are like a cozy blanket on a chilly day.

She’s got a magical way of showing emotions without being too heavy-handed. You can always expect a heartwarming love story from Leslie. And this chapter of the Santini story is no exception. The youngest Santini finds love in the unlikeliest of places. He falls head over heels and you’ll be rooting for him the whole time. The epilogue shows the entire family with their happily ever afters some 30 years later. It’s absolutely delightful! And the audio version, like the rest of the series, is simply wonderful.