Side Squeeze

Jasper Falls, Book 6

De: Lydia Michaels

Narrado por: Amber Battaglia

Award winning and best-selling author, Lydia Michaels, brings all the drama of rural, small-town romance to life in a second chance story of redemption that will pull at readers’ heartstrings.

Harrison Montgomery left Jasper Falls to escape his abusive father when he was only 17. Saving himself meant leaving those he loved behind.

Harrison was Mariella Mosconi’s first love, and when he ran away without even a goodbye, he stole her heart. Ten years later, when his father’s funeral brings him home, many unresolved emotions return.

Rekindled chemistry ignites into a passionate fling when two reunited lovers collide. Despite the entwined past these childhood sweethearts share, their present lives are worlds apart. Mariella’s just a small-town girl, and Harrison has become a big time, New York tycoon.

Could they have a future when he is still so haunted by a tragic past, or will he run again?

©2022 Lydia Michaels (P)2023 Lydia Michaels

Lemony fresh!

This adorable second chance romance was absolutely fantastic! I already loved Mariella from the first time I read about her and felt for all she had gone through with her ex. Harrison was great to finally get to know and see what was holding him back from his life and what he deserved. There was definitely chemistry between these characters and I loved watching them discover the more to that chemistry. Very sweet story and glad I’ve gotten to Continue with these characters throughout this series.

OK

Audiobook review:

This was an OK read for me. It took me a bit to get into, but I did enjoy it once I did. It was heartfelt, cute and fun to read. The narration wasn't my favourite but it was bearable.

3 stars

Second chance trope.

I listened to the audio version of this book narrated by Amber Battaglia. The narration was awesome.

I had a harder time with this story than with the others in the series at first. The story just didn't seem as engaging at the beginning. The storyline did pick up as it went along.

This is a second chance at love trope. The first time around, Harrison left town and Mariella. Once they run into each other again, physically they pick up right where they left off and that may be what bothered me so much. There really wasn't any emotional reconnect before they went at it. It made Mariella seem cheap and not thinking much of herself. Harrison definitely had some stuff to work through. He could have used a good counselor.

There was also quite a bit of family dynamics in this story which helped it along. Not bad, but not my favorite of the series.

Thanks for Valentine PR for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

Performance 5 ☆, Story 4 ☆, Overall 4.5 ☆

I just recently found Lydia Michaels. This is the second book of hers that I've read/listened to and I really like her writing. It's well done with great storylines and characters. This was the first book I've listened to in this series. It was a deeper, more serious small town, second chance for high school sweethearts. My heart broke for both Harrison and Mariella. They had so much to overcome. I looked forward to their HEA and wasn't disappointed. There were a couple places that I thought that his actions didn't match the big time, New York tycoon person he was to be. This made a good standalone, but I definitely wish I knew more about Giovanni and Erin. Will look into the other books in this series.

Amber Battaglia is an excellent narrator. She had many characters to voice and it was well done! This book rolled like a movie in my head. So good!

Great Addition to the Series

I love this series. Lydia's stories have a way of drawing me in and pulling on my heartstrings.

Harrison and Mariella have a shot at a second chance, but Harrison is battling some sad demons from his childhood. However, Mariella has a heart big enough for both of them. I felt their highs and their lows and was happy for them to reach their HEA.

Amber Battaglia is excellent and did a great job portraying all the characters in the story. Each character had a distinct voice, and her male voice has improved.

exactly what your summer needs!

a fun, steamy and quick read- side squeeze is the perfect second chance for summer.

every time I pick up a Lydia Michaels book I'm reminded of how remarkable she is with prose. Harrison and Mariella were absolutely swoon-worthy.

Loved it!

MC: Mariella and Harrison

4/5⭐️
3/5🌶

Third-person POV, high school love, reconnection, parental abuse (historical), HEA


Harrison and Mariella were high school sweethearts until one day he leaves town without telling her why and breaks her heart. Years later, she literally crashes back into his life when he’s in town for his dad’s funeral. Physically, they’re perfect together but emotionally, Mariella isn’t ready to let Harrison back in if he’s only going to leave again.
Anytime I want a small town, feel good romance, I know a Lydia Michael book is going to be the perfect choice. There’s plenty of back and forth between the main characters but the whole time, you can feel how they genuinely care for each other. I throughly enjoyed this audiobook.

A Decent Entry

Side Squeeze is a well-crafted small-town romance that is good in its own right, but pales in comparison to book 1.

Side Squeeze Audiobook Review

Side Squeeze by Lydia Michaels
4 Star Audiobook Review
Side squeeze by Lydia Michaels is a small town, second chance at love, contemporary romance. It is the sixth novel of the Jasper Falls series. Narrated by Amber Battaglia.
Mariella is looking for a new job. Interviewing for the manager position at a hotel that is owned by the husband of a girl Mariella butts heads with from a past time proves challenging as she enters the hotel for her interview and trips on her way in, falling to the feet of an old “fling”. Harrison, only in town for a short period of time due to the passing of his father, is staying in said hotel and provides Mariella with a key to his room, requesting she stop by for old times sake once her interview is over.
This was my second read by Lydia Michaels. Beautiful distractions, novel two of the McCullough Mountain series, was my first. I thoroughly enjoyed how characters from one series were brought back and referred to in the other series. In Beautiful Distractions I absolutely despised Erin, in Side Squeeze I learned more about her and absolutely loved her. Lydia Michaels is awesome at introducing a character, teaching you about all their flaws, and then turning them into someone amazing. Her characters are always likeable, full of love and are always relatable.
I thoroughly enjoyed Mariella’s drive to fight for what is right in her life. Harrison absolutely drove me insane. The way he spoke to Mariella, only showing his desire to be intimate with her, keeping her as his “side squeeze” and nothing else. Mariella deserved so much better when it came to a relationship. With Erin’s help, Harrison learns a thing or two about relationships and comes to his senses. It was magical seeing both Mariella and Harrison learn to trust again. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the epilogue wrapped up Mariella and Harrison’s story leaving no detail unnoticed.
Thank you, Valentine PR, for providing me with a complimentary review copy. In no way has that influenced my voluntary review. In my opinion, this is another must read by Lydia Michaels.

When Life gives you lemons

I loved listening to this book. Harrison Montgomery escaped his abusive father at 17 age which meant he had to leave those he loved behind. He is back in Jasper Falls for his father's funeral and after many years, to help his sister and has to come face to face with the hurt his abrupt departure caused. Mariella is a small-town girl who loves her town as her family. She is still pining after her first love Harrison. His return to town causes many emotions and pain to come to light. They are two totally different people now but they still have a strong connection. Harrison was Mariella's first love and her heart was broken when he left ten years ago. after many years, to help his sister and has to face the hurt his abrupt departure caused. Mariella is a small-town girl who loves her town as hr family. She is still pining after her first love Harrison. His return to town causes many emotions and pain to come to light. They are two totally different people now but they still have a strong connection.