Beat Around the Bush

Bell Buckle, Book 2

By: Karley Brenna

Narrated by: Samantha Cook, Carson Beck

Even being her boss couldn't keep him away. After her world is upended, Oakley Rae leaves behind everything she knows to find herself and ends up in the small town of Bell Buckle. With the clothes on her back and a few dollars to her name, she finds herself working at a feed store where the employees are welcoming, the customers are nice, and the boss is, well, bossy.

Lennon Bronson sticks to the routine he knows. Manage the local feed store, help out on his parents' ranch, and keep to himself. But with growing stress and his distracting new employee, he forgets what lines shouldn't be crossed and finds himself caring a little too much about Oakley and her safety. What started as a business relationship quickly blooms into something more, but Oakley doesn't want to ruin her chances at a fresh start by messing things up with her boss.

Things aren't always as they seem, and when someone starts overstepping on Oakley's privacy, Lennon has to make a decision. Will he keep his feelings quiet, or admit how he feels to keep Oakley close and out of danger?

©2024 Karley Brenna (P)2024 Podium Audio

Perfect bit of suspense!

The second Oakley wrecks her car into Lennon's, he is done for and I loved how these two kept being pushed into each other's orbit. Beat Around the Bush had the perfect blend of insta-love romance, heartwarming and protective cowboy MMC and a bit of suspense to keep you on edge throughout the whole story. I loved how Lennon was all in for Oak right off the bat and his forward and flirty comments had me cracking up when he would make Oakley blush. His dirty mouth sealed the deal and so did the way he cared for Oakley when she needed him most.

The audio performances by Samantha Cook and Carson Beck were again excellent. Samantha brought out Oakley's insecurities as well as her gut feelings about the creepy customer and Carson did a fantastic representation for Lennon's protective ways and his filthy mouth.

TROPES:
Age Gap
Workplace
Protective MMC
Grumpy x Sunshine
Suspense

A Perfect Blend of Tension and Romance ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book had me hooked from start to finish! The chemistry between Oakley and Lennon is electric, balancing just the right amount of tension and spice. Oakley’s journey of self-discovery and resilience after leaving her past behind was inspiring, and the small-town charm of Bell Buckle provided the perfect backdrop for this heartfelt story.

Lennon, with his gruff exterior and hidden tenderness, was impossible not to love. Their evolving relationship felt natural yet thrilling, and the added layer of suspense surrounding Oakley’s privacy issues kept me turning the pages. The author masterfully wove together romance, danger, and personal growth into a story that was as emotional as it was captivating.

If you love a romance where the stakes feel real and the characters leap off the page, this is the book for you. Highly recommend!