Love Me Brazen

Love Me Dangerous, Book 5

De: Dakota Davies

Narrado por: Gregory Salinas, Jill Smith

From USA Today best-selling author Dakota Davies comes an all new small town suspense romance featuring a divorced flight attendant and the irritating single dad firefighter living next door.

I moved back to Finn River for peace and quiet to heal my broken heart. And if only my neighbor would quit being so irritating, maybe I could. Instead, Linden’s renovating his deck at all hours or walking around shirtless or teasing me for skinny dipping in the dark.

So I retaliate with a harmless prank.

Soon we’re engaged in an all-out war. Yet each round only seems to make him more amused. Until one of his jokes goes horribly wrong, and I have no choice but to depend on him for help. I still hate him…but maybe a little less? Because as cocky and reserved as he is, he’s also deeply caring. A dedicated single dad to the coolest kid. A firefighter. Loyal to his big family and protective of those he cares about.

When I need a date for an upcoming event, he offers to be my someone. What’s the harm in fake dating my annoying neighbor? At the very least, it’ll get my ex to finally leave me alone.

But everything changes the moment all of our pent-up frustration gets poured into one incredible kiss. And just as I start to question whether this thing between us might not be so fake, the secrets we’ve both been guarding collide, putting us both in danger.

Someone’s waiting for us to let our guard down, and they won’t hesitate to strike…

©2025 Dakota Davies (P)2025 Dakota Davies

Grumpy Firefighter Banters with Sunshine Flight Attendant Neighbor

When newly divorced Meg moves into her cozy A-line home on the lake in Finn River, she hopes to rediscover herself and rebuild a life filled with peace and happiness. Everything seems to be falling into place—except for her grumpy next-door neighbor, Linden.

Linden is a divorced single dad and firefighter who’s trying to heal from a rough childhood and a toxic marriage. All he wants is peace and to be a good father, but Meg’s presence threatens to stir feelings he’s not ready for. He does his best to keep his distance.

That changes when a community service project throws them together—and Meg gets bitten by a rattlesnake. Linden jumps into action and offers to help with her recovery, despite her ex-husband trying to insert himself into the situation. Forced proximity leads to deeper conversations, unexpected vulnerability, and a slow realization that they might just be each other’s person.

The narration was a highlight for me! Gregory Salinas and Jill Smith brought Meg and Linden to life with such heart and depth. Their performances added a refreshing and emotional tone that made this story even more enjoyable.

Tropes:
Small Town
Neighbors
Firefighter/Flight Attendant
Forced Proximity
Single Dad
Both divorced
Age Gap
Grumpy/Sunshine
Suspense

Loved it!

This story was thrilling, romantic and suspenseful. It had me on my toes with the romance, because the tension between both characters is intense and exhilarating. We also have a murder mystery that will have you guessing and questioning some people. Overall, this story is worth the listen and I definitely recommend it to you. I loved the whole series. Gregory Salinas and Jill Smith did a fantastic job narrating this story.

“News flash, shortcake. You’re my favorite star.”

The mystery/suspense aspect wasn't as intense in this story as in the previous ones, but I still enjoyed every minute of it.

I loved the dynamics between Meg and Linden. I really enjoyed the way that they teased and messed with each other, but I enjoyed even more the way that Linden takes care of Meg without second thoughts even when it goes against everything he's used to.

I also loved the bond between Meg and Greta, and as a person who loves puns, I had a lot of fun with all the funny t-shirts that Greta got for her dad.

The narration of this story was on point. Gregory Salinas and Jill Smith did a fantastic job of bringing all the characters to life. I am truly enjoying this series, and can't wait to see what happens next.

Quote: “I’m not the kind of person who spends a lot of energy wishing for things I can’t have, but in this moment, I realize that I’ve made hundreds of them about Meg. It’s time to make a few of them come true.”

Sweet Love Story, Solid Suspense

From a romance stand point, I really enjoyed how this story unfolded. There were times when I felt the age gap between the two a little too much but overall, the way they were eventually thrown together and came to care about each other became a fun and sweet little series of events. I also enjoyed seeing the way his daughter opened up to Meg and sought out her help, in place of her mother, who is not a part of her life, in a way that gave Meg a connection to her own mother lost far too soon. The suspense aspect was good, but a trend I've noticed in this series that gets a little frustrating is how long facts are kept a secret from the readers as well. Lindens past was eluded to several times, however we did not know what happened until very late in the book. Keeping a secret from the audience as long as its kept from other characters can get a little old, but overall it was a pretty solid mystery.

Narration: Both narrators are new to me, and while they have not been favorites, that doesn't mean they aren't good. The narration was solid and layered which helps bring the story to life, and that's what I want from and audiobook, so this one is not going to let you down.

Romantic suspense

Gregory Salinas and Jill Smith’s incredible voices brought these characters and their complicated journey to life. Linden and Meg’s story had a little bit of everything. A single dad suspense with a cheeky prank war and tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. These two had the odds stacked against them, but anything worth having is worth fighting for. I enjoyed the slow burn and chemistry and I liked watching them become vulnerable enough to trust in one another. This romantic suspense will have you second guessing at every twist and turn.

Great Voices for the Characters

I have loved everything from Dakota Davies that I have read, and this book is no different. The way she weaves the stories and the characters that she writes has depth and layers. I am here for it all!!

Meg and Linden are neighbors who don't see eye to eye, and the banter is awesome between these two. The tension runs high in this book between these two!
Meg is trying to move on after her divorce, and she is a flight attendant with a big heart.
Linden is raising his teenage daughter while co-parenting with his ex. He has a crazy schedule being a firefighter and a single dad.

Both of these characters have past pain, and while they fake date, they become closer. Their story is a great one with some suspense sprinkled in the story that will keep you guessing.

Dakota always selects the best narrators to fit her characters!
Gregory Salinas and Jill Smith narrate this book in dual narration. I felt like both narrators fit the characters very well. Gregory has a voice that is perfect for the single dad who doesn't let many in his circle. Jill is great for the sassy, independent woman that is Meg. I felt listening to this book made the story so much better. I love getting to experience the book while listening to the emotions of the narrators.
I have loved this series, and I can't wait for more to come from Dakota!

Loved it

Linden and Meg

I listened to the audio book. The narrators did a great job. I loved listening to this story. Linden is a firefighter and single dad 💖 and Meg is a flight attendant. They are neighbors,both divorced. Meg isn't a fan of his because he makes noises when she is trying to sleep. Things escalate between these two that turn into prank wars, Linden comes to Meg and agree to be her fake boyfriend. Things from the past comes haunting them, stuff comes to light and what Meg thought isn't at all as it seems. Linden's past comes back. Someone is trying to keep their activities a secret. Fires are being started to get rid of people. I thought this was interesting, hot and enjoyable. I have read the other books in this series and enjoyed them too but doesn't need to be read or listened to, to enjoy this one.

Fake Dating Turned Real

A captivating blend of fiery tension and heartfelt connection, Love Me Brazen by USA Today bestselling author Dakota Davies is a must-read small-town romance that proves your greatest annoyance might just be your greatest love. This latest installment in her ongoing series, set in the charming town of Finn River, delivers an irresistible mix of suspense, humor, and swoon-worthy romance.

The story introduces us to Meg, a recently divorced flight attendant seeking peace and quiet to mend her broken heart. Her plans for a tranquil new beginning are immediately thwarted by her infuriatingly handsome neighbor, Linden. A single dad and firefighter, Linden seems to exist only to disrupt her peace, whether he’s renovating his deck at all hours, walking around shirtless, or teasing her for a late-night skinny dip.

What starts as a harmless retaliatory prank soon escalates into an all-out war of wills. Yet, as the reviewer notes, the banter between these two is simply "awesome." Each volley of their prank war, instead of creating distance, only seems to amplify the sizzling tension between them. Davies masterfully crafts characters with incredible depth and layers; Meg, with her big heart, is earnestly trying to move on, while Linden juggles the demands of a high-stakes job and co-parenting his teenage daughter.

The dynamic shifts when one of Linden’s jokes goes awry, forcing a reluctant Meg to depend on his help. Beneath the cocky, reserved exterior, she discovers a deeply caring and protective man who is fiercely loyal to his family. This newfound understanding paves the way for an unexpected proposition: when Meg needs a date for an event to finally get her ex to back off, Linden offers to step in.

Their fake-dating arrangement is the perfect catalyst for their pent-up frustration to explode into an incredible, undeniable kiss. As they navigate their pretend relationship, they find themselves growing closer, sharing past pains and vulnerabilities. However, just as they begin to question if their feelings are real, the secrets they've both been guarding collide, revealing a lurking danger that puts them both at risk. The suspense sprinkled throughout the story is expertly woven, keeping you on the edge of your seat and guessing until the very end.


The narration of Love Me Brazen is a standout. Dakota always selects the best narrators to fit her characters. Gregory Salinas and Jill Smith's performance is simply brilliant

Salinas’s voice is the perfect match for Linden, capturing the essence of the guarded single dad who doesn’t let many people into his inner circle. Smith brilliantly portrays Meg’s sassy, independent spirit. Listening to the book elevates the entire experience, as the narrators skillfully convey the raw emotion and palpable chemistry between the leads. Experiencing the story through their voices makes it feel all the more immediate and impactful.

Love Me Brazen is another stellar addition to Dakota Davies's body of work. It’s a beautifully layered story of healing, unexpected love, and thrilling suspense. Whether you read it or listen to it, Meg and Linden's journey from warring neighbors to devoted lovers is a captivating ride you won't want to miss.

Entertaining

I love single parent stories, particularly ones set in a small town, such as Finn River.

This is firefighter and single dad Linden and his neighbour Meg’s story and was a good addition to the series.

This book was an entertaining listen with a great balance of suspense and romance; I was surprised by a number of the twists and turns.

I liked the characters and the story was engaging. The narrators did a good job with their narration and brought the story to life for me, doing justice to the story that the author created.

However there are secrets and when they come to light, danger surrounds them.

What happens when the past and present collide?

The narration by Gregory Salinas & Jill Smith brought the characters to life for me. Their voices were easy to listen too and they brought all the passion, drama, romance and humour to their performances.

Another Fantastic Finn River Story!

Love Me Brazen is book 5 in the Love Me Dangerous series and follows the story of Linden and Meg, neighbors who banter, have some hot tension and prank each other. Deep down all that there is an undeniable connection and this book explores their journey to each other in the most heart warming way. Both Linden and Meg have been through a lot in life and when a prank gone wrong brings them closer together, they find that they have this in common and brings their connection closer.
Linden has such a big heart and loves deeply for his family. His childhood trauma was horrible and definitely didn’t leave him unscathed but with all that it’s made him into a strong and caring man. Meg lost her mom young and has a struggling relationship with her Dad as well as still recovering from her divorce. Throughout it all she is such a strong Woman who loved and dated deeply. Meg’s relationship with Linden’s daughter is just the sweetest! I enjoyed the journey this book took me on of Linden and Meh falling for each other and the suspense along the way.

Gregory Salinas and Jill Smith brought these characters to life perfectly! Their narration of Linden
And Meg was so well done! I thought they were both an incredible fit!

This book is the incredible and will have you in your feels! Another Finn River love story you don’t want to miss!