It Was Nothing

De: Susan Henshaw

Narrado por: Tim Paige, Christine Lakin

He’s America’s favorite heartthrob. She’s a broke single mom who loathes every lyric he sings…and she just became his wife.

Ford Dupree has two Grammys, eleven platinum albums, and a reputation that keeps him on the cover of every tabloid. Yet, for all his success, there’s still one thing missing: the love of his best friend.

Peyton Jamerson’s been side-eyeing his fame and dodging his proposals for years...

Until she walks back into his life in crisis and drops to one knee herself.

A fake marriage to save her son? Easy.

Sleeping in the same bed with a pillow wall between them? Harder.

Pretending she’s not the love of his life? Impossible.

Perfect for listeners who love hilarious banter and a mix of sweet and sizzle, It Was Nothing is a devastating, second chance, small-town, ‘rock star’ romance packed with longing, secrets, and a love story that was never supposed to happen this way.

Fall in love with your next book boyfriend!

©2025 Susan Henshaw Auten (P)2025 Susan Henshaw Auten

The best second-chance love story!

The Dupree family has become my “found family” throughout this series. I have to say that I was so excited for Ford’s story, maybe more excited about his story than any of the others! Something about his personality, struggles, and successes really resonated with me. I already loved him, but now I love him even more. Peyton is such a sweetheart and even through her own struggles and issues with trusting Ford, she is still his perfect match! I love Susan’s writing because she makes it so easy to get caught up in the characters and their lives. But listening to the story puts it on a whole other level! To hear the emotions that I’m feeling in the characters voices really brings them to life for me. I cry with them, laugh with them, celebrate with them, and worry with them. If you haven’t read or listened to more of the Seddledowne series, you should go back to the beginning. It’s the best way to learn more about the family and the town that make Ford and Peyton who they are. No spoilers here, but epilogue #2 will melt your heart and flood your eyes! I remember reading it and being emotional, but nothing prepared me to HEAR Ford and Tally’s discussion! I highly recommend this audiobook!

Might be my favorite in the whole series!

I have absolutely loved every book in the Seddldowne series - but this one might be my favorite.

I love a good redemption story, and our boy Ford definitely got that. He’s been through it - from his life on the road as a famous musician, to his addictions, to not being able to get the girl he’s had his eye on for so long…

Peyton loves Ford - as her best friend. He loves her as way more and will stop at nothing to convince her she feels the same, including proposing to her (more than once). But when she realizes a marriage might be the one thing to help with the custody of her son…she agrees. How long can these two take it before they realize they’re better off together? And how long until Peyton decides to share the biggest secret she’s been keeping for years…?

I love these two. Their friendship sets such a fun foundation for this story. And of course we are all the Dupree’s in this book which is always fun! Their meddling ways never disappoint 😂

I listened to this whole series and the audiobooks are fantastic - you won’t want to stop listening!!

Ford’s story was AMAZING.

5 out of 5 stars

WOW. I LOVED THIS BOOK. I can’t believe our time in Settledowne Virginia has come to an end. 😭 I have to go back and read 2 of the stories but then it will be completely over. This story has been long awaited and I’m so glad I’m able to talk about it. I loved the mental health rep in this book. Ford struggles with addiction and has been in recovery for 5 years at the start of this story. This is a story of acceptance, finding yourself, and family. I highly recommend it.

The narration? FABULOUS. Ford was brought to life in my ears and I couldn’t have been happier about it. The narrator for Peyton was awesome as well. I can’t wait to reread the rest of the series this way!

Fabulous Series Conclusion

This fade-to-black, marriage-of-convenience, friends-to-lovers romance stole my heart. Ford, the bad boy of Seddledowne’s Dupree brothers, is relentless in his quest to get Peyton to marry him, even after years of longing. Peyton tries to ignore her true feelings and stand her ground of not entering a romance with him, until big changes upend her and her son’s life. Their road to romance was anything but smooth (the “twist” was fantastic!)
This was a reread for me on audio, and wow, another great production in this series. The dual narration from Tim Paige and Christine Lakin was great, their voices portraying the range of emotions that the story warranted. A truly enjoyable listening experience, I’ve loved this whole series both with my eyes and ears! I had the pleasure to listen early, thoughts are my own, honest and voluntary. 4.5 stars

Beautiful and emotional!!!

What you'll love:
marriage of convenience
first love, second chance
country music star MMC
single mom FMC
flashbacks
redemption and forgiveness
strong family bonds
the tattoo
tension and chemistry
Dupree brothers group texts
perfect epilogues!!!!

This book was everything I love about this series!! The drama, the emotions, the family relationships, the romance - it's more addicting than a daytime soap opera and I am so here for all of it. And these narrators? Be still my heart! Their engaging performance brought the story to life and they captured both characters so beautifully.

I have been waiting for Ford's story of redemption from book one and wow, it met and exceeded every expectation. Seriously. The way that man loves and gives with his whole heart is so beautiful - he has changed so much from the Ford we meet at the beginning of the series. I also love that over the series, he and Peyton have become best friends (from enemies) and their emotional journey of heartache and love and trust wrung my heart out. Talk about ALL THE FEELS and ALL THE SWOON!

Love the Dupree family (those text threads!) and all their messy, real relationships full of humor and so much love. Seeing so many of the nieces and nephews growing up was the extra bonus I didn't know I needed.

The only thing I didn't like about this book was that it means the end of the Seddledowne series. (insert all the crying emojis here). I am so attached to these characters! My one solace is that I can pick up their stories and re-read them over and over...which I absolutely plan on doing.

This is the fifth and final book in the series and can be read as a standalone BUT you will probably enjoy it best if you at least read All to Pieces and Here's the Thing first so you get a little of the background on Peyton and Ford.

I love this series so much and this was the perfect ending! These books broke my heart all to pieces and then put it back together better than it was before. I am a fan for life!

I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.

CW: fade to black between married couple, implied teen sex but nothing on page, manipulative ex, song lyrics with innuendo