Show Down

Juniper Ridge Romantic Comedies, Book 3

By: Tawna Fenske

Narrated by: Benjamin Charles, Stella Hunter

Length: 7 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

They called me America’s smartest entrepreneur. So how was I dumb enough to let my dream girl get away?

I built my billion-dollar business slinging a hammer. Not with a law degree like the rest of my tight-knit family. An entire chain of luxury resorts bears my name. But that’s a cold comfort when the woman I love hates my guts. She should, considering how things ended.

So I set out to win Lauren back by moving to this quirky small town and scoring a spot on her family’s reality TV show. Between a botched baking class, sexy bumper car battles, and a bizarrely hostile fish, I’m almost sure we’ll get our second chance at love. Too bad Lauren’s in no hurry to pick up where we left off. Even if our chemistry’s still off-the-charts hot. Good thing I’m no quitter, especially when it comes to her.

One-click this small town rom-com about a self-made billionaire trying to secure his second chance at love with the woman he let get away...if he can convince her to stop hating him.

©2021 Tawna Fenske (P)2021 Tawna Fenske

Lo and Nick have loads of chemistry but lack comm

Communication, communication, communication. We always heart that communication is the key to a successful relationship. And in this case it's the absolute truth. There is so much that Nick and Lauren need to talk about and yet as hard as they try, lack of communication is their biggest downfall. That's why their relationship failed two years ago and if they're not careful this time around, it's where it will fail again.

I found it interesting that neither Nick or Lo had stopped loving the other during their two year breakup, yet neither of them were willing to reach out and talk to the other about what happened. It makes me wonder what will happen in the future with them. I'm just not sold on this relationship as I'm not sure either is really ready for a lasting relationship. I guess only time will tell.

I both read this book and listened to the audiobook. I much admit that this is my first Benjamin Charles book. I have heard good things about him as a narrator and he did not disappoint. His voice is mesmerizing. Stella Hunter is a really good Lauren. I thought they both played well off of each other with the banter.

Loved it!

I really enjoyed this one! As always with a Tawna Fenske book, there was humor but it's not just the humor that makes the story. It's the deeper conflict and character backstory. I wanted to like Nick, at first, but I just didn't the author began spilling his secrets and his motivations. They things all came together. Nick is a little bit clueless esp. in the beginning but like every well-written book, the author gave him a great growth curve. He finally "got" Lauren. I ended up really liking him. I read this book on kindle and then was fortunate enough to be able to listen in audio. I thought both audio narrators did a phenomenal job. This book held my interest from beginning to end and that's not as easy as you think it might be. Huge thank you to the author and her team for allowing me to read and review this book.

Second chance feel-good winner

I'd been waiting for this audio to come out for ages and it didn't disappoint. A second chance romance set in the Juniper Ridge world created by this author, Show Down was a sweet, easy read without too much angst and a satisfying happily every after between producer Lauren, one of the Judson clan, and Nick, a successful builder. Quick note: if you haven't listened to the previous two books in this series, this one holds up fine on its own as a stand alone. Set in a small community specially created for a reality TV show, if you want more background on the setting and the characters you'll obviously want to start from the beginning, but it certainly isn't necessary.

Nick and Lauren were head over heels for each other, dating for year, when Nick dropped the bombshell that he was moving...at a party and without telling Lauren first (he had reasons, but I still kind of wanted to punch him in the junk). The worst part? Lauren thought he was about to propose and in one of those terribly awkward scenes where you know what's going to happen, and it does, but you still want to die a little on the inside as you squirm your way through a cringe-worthy embarrassing moment that you're dragged through with the character, she yells out that she will marry him. The problem? There was never any intention of a proposal on the near horizon. Mortified, Lauren ends the relationship, pretty much ripping out her own heart. Skip ahead two years: Nick's building business is on top of the world and Lauren is successfully producing Juniper Ridge's own reality show on their carefully curated small community on a former cult property with her family. Nick's business has the tender to extend and develop the establishment, bringing him deliberately back into contact with Lauren. He's determined to prove how much he has tried to change and how much he needs Lauren in his life. But old habits sometimes refuse to go away and the couple need to push past stubbornness, pride and poor communication to have any chance of a future.

To be honest, I expected a bit more angst with the initial break up and consequent getting back together. While the book certainly highlighted past mistakes, it didn't dwell too heavily on them for the most part with Nick and Lauren willing to make a go of it much earlier than I expected. Don't get me wrong, former sins certainly cropped up here and there, but it was resolved pretty easily as both Nick and Lauren knew they had to work past it for their relationship to be successful. This was also assisted by the fact that the two main characters seemed to have the self control of a flea when it came to each other, with nowhere near as much animosity present between the two as I had expected. I liked that the author didn't drag this out too much and had Nick operating on the front foot to from the very beginning as he was determined to get Lauren back.

I would have liked for Lauren to stick to her guns for a bit longer, but this is just personal preference and it certainly didn't taint my liking of the story - as I said, it wasn't a bad thing, just unexpected. As a result, the focus was definitely the rebuilding of Nick and Lauren's relationship and trying to meet each other half way. There was a teeny bit of excess drama towards the end, but I get why it was there. I found it a bit strange that with Nick seemingly so into Lauren, even after two years, that he hadn't made any effort to stop or repair the initial break up and fought to keep their relationship going.

As for Nick, I loved him. While he seemed a little clueless about some things, the author had him trying so hard to repair his relationship with Lauren that he couldn't help but be endearing. Lauren was also a strong character and the usual suspects, aka the family and their partners, crop up frequently, some more than others. There's also a cameo by one of the Ponderosa crew which was a nice touch. The reader is treated to the quick confessionals at the start of each chapters again (I love these!) as the story is told from both Nick and Lauren's point of view.

As this book is set in a reality TV world created by this author, I found that the story line didn't emphasis Juniper Ridge, its origins and its features/characters too heavily as this has been done in greater detail in other books in the series. As a fan of these stories, I liked this as it allowed just enough detail for familiar themes of the series to be built upon while focussing on the rekindling of a relationship between Nick and Lauren. Instead, since this is a second chance novel, there were flashbacks and a good amount of innuendos and reference to their past shared history together.

I'm really enjoying this series. It puts a unique twist on a series built around a familial connection and I'm always guaranteed a feel good story with a happy ending. I love how Nick was committed from the beginning to a fresh start with Lauren, throwing himself out there and holding nothing back. I'm a sucker for a second chance novel and this was a cute read. There's a epilogue at the end that wraps up the story and sets the reader up for Cooper and Amy which I can't wait for.

The narrators of this audible book were great, especially Benjamin Charles. His voice is like hot chocolate on a cold day - delicious - and matched what I pictured for Nick perfectly.

Sweet, Steamy, and Hilarious!

I was so excited to head back to Juniper Ridge! Nick and Lauren's story was a sweet, steamy, and hilarious second chance romance. I love all of the Judson siblings, but have been highly anticipating Lauren's story in Show Down, and it didn't disappoint!

Benjamin Charles and Stella Hunter narrate this audio, and are a fantastic pairing to give life to Nick and Lauren. Benjamin Charles is a new to me narrator, and oh man is he swoony! I loved his performance of Nick showcasing all his passionate, hopeful, and loyal personality. Stella Hunter brings the perfect touch of sass and determination to Lauren's character. Both narrators captivated and hooked me from the start with their performances.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! In this book you get a hot, alpha carpenter proving he deserves a second chance at love, a reluctant, fierce, independent woman, steamy time, cute animals, a feisty fish, a bumper car ride filled with all the sexual innuendos, glimpses of all the Judson siblings, and HEA perfection. I am looking forward to more from Tawna Fenske!

Second chances at love

Second chances is what Nick is hoping for when he is ask to build more cabins at Juniper Ridge. He missed his chance two years ago with Lauren and he plans to change that.

Lauren was devastated when her and Nick broke up and she doesn't plan to get in that position again but when he shows up in her community working for her family then those feelings that never went away come to the forefront and she must decide is it worth getting hurt again to have love.

This book has lots of feelings in it and a crazy fish as well as some great characters. It stresses the importance of communication on so many levels and of not making assumptions as we all know what happens when we assume. It also shows us we can't please others without first pleasing ourselves. We should never base our life choices on what our parents want or what we think they want nor should we think we are communicating what is in our heads. No one can read our minds so we are responsible for expressing what we feel. Great job, I loved it.

Benjamin Charles and Stella Hunter were amazing narrating this book. Their voices were perfect for Nick and Lauren. I enjoyed listening to them.

Another good Juniper Ridge book

I am enjoying this series but this book was a little tougher for me. I appreciated the storyline but some of the actions of the characters just bothered me a little. I still like the premise of building a community for a reality show but this second chance relationship was tricky. In the end, the growth and change of the main characters pays off and the HEA is achieved. I adore Stella Hunter and she did a fantastic job. Benjamin Charles was delicious for the male part but his female voice was almost indistinguishable and so I found myself losing who was talking during some of his chapters. It would have been fine in a duet format.

Show Down

You’d have thought I’d confessed to killing kittens while wearing white after Labor Day.

After a horrible misunderstanding, Nick and Lauren's futures went in different directions. Nick gets the opportunity to be part of the reality show that Lauren produces and jumps at the chance to be around her again. Lauren has never really forgiven Nick for the embarrassing way their relationship ended. Nick is determined to prove to Lauren that he messed up and to give them a second chance.

I was excited to return to Juniper Ridge after listening to the first two books. Nick and Lauren had some obvious tension between them given their past misunderstanding. Unfortunately, I failed to feel the romantic connection between them and the humour from the first two books was not as present. I enjoyed connecting with the previous couples and look forward to what is next.

Audio ... Benjamin Charles and Stella Hunter managed to bring the characters and story to life.

3.5 Maple Leafs ... Show Down (Juniper Ridge 3) is a second chance, romantic comedy that is told in the first-person dual point-of-view of Nick and Lauren.

I love this community 💕

I adore this community that Tawna has created with Juniper Ridge. With each story the community grows & gets better. Enter the record scratch to Lauren’s life—Nick. She loved, lost & was utterly embarrassed by him when they dated before. Now Nick has one thing on his mind—Lauren & how to win her back.

After a life of hard work preached by his mother Nick is a little confused about her abrupt stance on her childrens’ futures. He is so stubborn and that leads him to make choices without including Lauren…and Lauren has moved past not being included in her own choices. They are at am impasse…until he talks to his mom. She tells him romance & autonomy are the way to win Lauren back💕

I was lucky enough to listen to the audio. Stella & Benjamin are perfect in their roles. I do wish Benjamin would have a bit more feminine voice for Lauren but alas his voice is too deep & smooth 😍

Fave Quote:
Rebirth…isn’t it great to know you don’t have to get it right the first time…

Best one of the series so far!

I absolutely DEVOURED this book (Benjamin Charles' voice is do die for dreamy and Stella Hunter simply nails Loren). I'm a sucker for second chance romance, especially when it involves strong, independent sheroes and heroes who weren't assholes the first time around. Loren is absolutely relatable, fierce, and loves her family. She's reluctant and a little wounded and seeing her and Nick dance around each other again, pulled together by something greater than themselves was just a wonderful ride. As all Tawna's books, this one is full of heart and heat and so much laughter. All the thumbs up. Do yourself a favor and go grab it immediately!
Keywords: second chance romance, sibling series, interracial romance, rom com

Good story

Thank you Tawana Fenske for writings a story of black people without it being about gangsters , drugs, thugs and the black women not have to be fat. Thank you I appreciate the people are educated and got it going on financially. Good story. Love the narrators.