Before Now

De: C.G. Blaine

Narrado por: M.K. Blackwood, Christian Fox

“She’s a sinner pretending to be a saint, crushing your soul while you kneel at her feet.”

Remi

They chant his name. They play his songs. Adams North has the world in a chokehold. Rock god on the rise. Except, the frontman for Of Men and Wolves isn't Adams to me. He's Foster West, the man whose voice stole my heart five years ago. The one I left behind and needed to forget. Now I'm directing his band's documentary, trapped on tour, sleeping on their bus. And Foster doesn’t intend to make my job easy. Because while I ache from reminders of what we could have been, Foster hates we happened at all.

Foster

I broke every rule for her. Trusted her. Laid myself at her feet. I fell hard for the sad girl who shared whispered promises. Then she shattered them—walked away like it wasn’t real. Now my worst mistake is coming on tour. She’s filming us on stage and off, giving a glimpse of the men behind the band. I'm expected to be open. Vulnerable. Let her in after the wreckage she caused. I hate how I still crave her. I hate every look and word, threatening to drag me back under. Remi Sinner nearly destroyed me once. This time around, there’s no escaping this beautiful liar. Before Now is an angsty, second-chance rockstar romance and book one in the Of Men and Wolves series of interconnected standalones.

Includes: forced proximity, emotional wreckage, found family, secrets, and a broody frontman who can't stay away.

©2025 C.G. Blaine (P)2025 C.G. Blaine

10/10 Rockstar Romance! A must listen!

C.G. Blaine is a new to me author and M.K. Blackwood and Christian Fox are new to me narrators and they blew my socks off. The story, characters, plot, everything was absolutely incredible, and the narration was outstanding. I was so immersed in their storytelling that I felt like I was a part of the plot. The emotions were so real and raw. The angst was gut wrenching. The tension was so thick I thought I was going to snap. The way Remi and Foster unknowingly broke each other tore my heart out, but when they finally opened up and shared their trauma and secrets, and healed together, I literally kicked my feet in happiness for them.

The cameo of Hometown Heatless was a great surprise! I am so invested in these characters and am eagerly awaiting more from this found family of bandmates. This was a 10/10 rockstar romance with the perfect narrators to tell the story.

Before Now: Of Men and Wolves #1

🎧🎧AUDIO REVIEW🎧🎧

THIS is how you write a rockstar romance!

I’ve read quite a few different “rockstar romances” in the past and while I don’t normally gravitate towards them easily, there was something about the synopsis of this one that captured me immediately. These types of stories come with an inherent level of emotion and wreckage that goes beyond conflict and angst. It’s the nature of the beast, as they say. Characters typically have extreme life circumstances to muddle thru alongside the romance journey, and the stories are conflict driven. That being said, in my opinion, not just anyone can write them, even “seasoned” authors. I only speak from experience on this and I’m only mentioning it to really hammer in the point that as soon as I finished listening to this audiobook, the very first thing I thought was, "THIS is how you write a rockstar romance!”

Musicians who rise to the level of rockstar, bring to the proverbial table a whole lot of circumstances/baggage in and of themselves, add in the fact that said rockstar and documentary filmmaker (MFC) have history which is not exactly resolved or “clean”, there is going to be mountains to scale in order to get to the ❤️sweet spot❤️. It’s going to take a lot of development and growth and most of it will probably not be rainbows & gumdrops. C.G. Blaine delivered on all these fronts and then some! This story was a perfectly executed blend of past and present. The tension and chemistry were spirited, sexy, dramatic and beautiful. The growth of the main characters was a journey not easily predicted with enough spins to have me reeling. My heart hurt and soared at every turn. Absolute perfection!

🎙️The first time I had the pleasure of listening to M.K. Blackwood narrate an audiobook wasn’t long ago and this only makes the second one. I’ve listened to a ton of different audiobooks by Christian Fox in this #AudioEra I find myself in but nothing prepared me for the two as a team! Their voices and styles are completely in sync with each other’s and it honestly made for one of the best audio experiences in my #AudioEra thus far! This was such a perfect casting I don’t even think I have the words for it! The author’s writing and storytelling skills captured my attention from beginning to end, but it was M.K. & Christian that grabbed me by the throat and made my heart skip and squeeze for 15(ish) hours. It was their performance that took an already tension fueled storyline and ignited it to epic levels. I could not stop listening. I listened right through a workday and lucky for me, I am my boss! Just 👏👏WOW👏👏!

This book is EVERYTHING!!! I DEVOURED this!

I'M IN LOVE!!! This is the first book I have listened to by C.G. Blaine and she gets a standing ovation from me!! I wanted to listen to this based off the tropes and nothing else and let me tell you I was pulled into this story from the beginning and I didn't want this to end.

The narrators M.K. Blackwood and Christian Fox were Chef's Kiss 💋!! They made me feel so connected to the characters and their story. I loved how they held my attention and kept me entertained the entire time I was listening to this book. These two were made to work together!

REMI MY HEART BROKE for this character! Remi was just the sweetest character but this girl has gone through so much in her life and all she needed was for life to fall into place for her. When she's hired to direct Of Men and Wolves documentary she didn't know that this job was going to change her life. The front man is known as Adam North but to her he'll always be Foster West the voice that stole her heart 5 years ago.

FOSTER IS EVERYTHING! He also had a rough past with a lot of painful moments to overcome. He fell in love with a girl he finally let in and trusted and she just walked away. Then one day there she was in front of him to direct their documentary. As their filming he needs to open up but it's hard to open up when she hurt him the first time but over time these two finally start to see puzzle pieces click together that they didn't know were missing.

This story is heartbreaking at times and you just want to throw things, scream and cry all at the same time but let me tell you it's all worth it. You will also moments you laugh, smile, swoon and in the end you get such a beautiful ending. I could talk about this book all day! I seriously just fell in love with this book and all these characters. I loved getting to know the band mates but look forward to their own stories. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this audiobook. C.G. Blaine thank you for this masterpiece!

Absolutly Loved thsi Audiobook

Before Now by C.G. Blaine is a deeply emotional and angsty second-chance rockstar romance, and the first book in the Of Men and Wolves series. The masterful blend of emotional wreckage, forced proximity, found family, and secrets will keep you on the edge of your seat. The narration by M.K. Blackwood and Christian Fox is supremely well done and brings the story to life.


The story alternates between "before" and "now," following Remi and Foster's journey. Before, they connect through a unique app that allows them to "wander" together without ever showing their faces. This experience creates an intense, emotional bond. The ending to their "before" story is a mess, filled with a heartbreaking secret from Remi and deep-seated resentment from Foster. Now, years later, Foster is a rising rock god named Adams North, and Remi is hired to direct his band's documentary. She's trapped on tour with him, and he’s determined to make her job difficult. While she aches for what they could have been, he's full of hate for what they were. This forced proximity reignites their undeniable chemistry, forcing them to confront the past that shattered them both.

This book was an emotional whirlwind, full of difficult situations and raw feelings. I was completely invested and couldn't put it down. Remi and Foster's journey to work through their problems and find their way back to a happy ending is both gut-wrenching and beautiful. The way they interact is charged with tension and emotion, from their laugh-out-loud funny banter to the next-level passion. Remi is a fierce and resilient woman, a force to be reckoned with who holds her own in a male-dominated world. Foster, now known as Adams, is a complex and broody frontman with surprising emotional depth. The way he speaks is captivating, and his internal struggles make their eventual reconnection all the more poignant.

Before Now is a story of second chances and the enduring nature of true love. C.G. Blaine masterfully captures the raw emotions of her characters, painting vivid scenes that pull you into the world she's created. If you are looking for an emotionally charged romance with well-developed characters and sizzling chemistry, this book is a must-read.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Before Now Blew Me Away!

Before Now is my first book by C.G. Blaine and it blew me away! I love the idea of the app that first connected Remi and Foster. I have no idea if there's an app like Wander that exists, but it's a cool idea. Anyway, the story is told in dual timelines so we get chapters from before and chapters in the present. I'm normally not into this, but I was able to stay engaged through the whole story.

Remi and Foster have traumatic pasts and they would escape from this trauma by using the app. They connected, but they didn't truly know what haunted each other. All contact is lost when Remi disappears and Foster thinks everything is a lie until Remi shows up to work on his tour for a documentary. They have chemistry, baggage and secrets that keep them connected until one night Foster discovers the truth behind Remi's disappearance. Then we get to see Remi and Foster truly be with each other and I loved every friggin second of it! There was spice, but not a whole lot. I didn't mind though because the story was SO GOOD!

Christian Fox and M.K. Blackwood perform in duet and blew me away! The Fox had to do such a range of characters and he just nailed it. It was awesome! Plus he sang and that was awesome too! M.K. is a new to me narrator and she was INCREDIBLE! I loved the sass, fierceness, vulnerability, and emotion that she brought out in Remi. I will definitely be looking for more audios with her!

There were many other things I loved about this book that included the side characters. PLUS there are cameos by The Hometown Heartless from Brit Benson's amazing series! I can't wait for more in this series!

Before Now - Book 1 in Of Men and Wolves series
Tropes: rockstar, second chance, forced proximity, traumatic past, hurt/comfort

I requested an ALC from Home Cooked Books and all opinions are my own.

🎸 Angst, Heartache & A Mic Drop HEA

ALC Review:
Duet Narration by M.K. Blackwood and Christian Fox

"When you lose yourself, finding so much in the real world no one else cares to notice."

Tropes:
Second chance romance
Rockstar
Forced proximity
Found family
Secrets
Slow Burn

This audiobook completely drew me in. The emotional tension between Remi and Foster is intense—raw, angsty, and heart-wrenching—and M.K. Blackwood and Christian Fox bring every heartbeat of this story to life. M.K. Blackwood perfectly captures Remi’s guilt, strength, and vulnerability, while Christian Fox embodies Foster’s brooding pain, longing, and passion. Their chemistry as narrators mirrors the characters’ on-page connection, making every confrontation, whisper, and stolen moment feel palpable. And hearing Christian Fox sing in the first chapter? I was instantly hooked.

The narrators’ timing, tone shifts, and emotional nuances make the heartbreak, slow-burn tension, and ultimate joy feel so real. I laughed, got annoyed, frustrated and cheered right along with them—it’s truly a duet that elevates the story to another level.

A 5-star listen—thank you to C.G. Blaine and Home Cooked Books. I’ll be revisiting this performance again and again!

REMI && FOSTER

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

FOSTER && REMI

M.K. Blackwood && Christian Fox did AMAZING in this audiobook.
I went into this book blind.
Never read C.G. Blaine. I’ve never listened to either of these narrators.
&& now I fell in love.

Rockstar Romance
Second Chance Romance

The way these two met was so unique. I love the backstory mixed with their current story. & why they didn’t work out before will break your heart and possibly leave you in tears. But this story, this AUDIO, is worth the listen!

If you’re not an audiobook lover, I still highly suggest reading this book!

What a beautiful story

•Trope: Rockstar Romance, Second Chance, Forced Proximity

• THOUGHTS:
I have no words. When I finished this story. I immediately had to let the author and narrator know how amazing this was. I loved the angst, the deep-rooted connection, the angst, the spice. wowza! ugh. I honestly loved this book so much. It took hold of my whole heart, and it will forever be there!! foorreeevveerr.
Remi and Foster, gosh, I truly feel you just need to go into this book blind. I went into this completely blind, knowing nothing about this book. I seriously got so much more. It was just amazing. This is definitely a top read for me this year!! Just trust me! You want this book in your life.
I am so excited to see where the rest of this series goes. Foster and Remi are characters that are layered and messy, and you can't help but want them in all the happy and rainbow sunshines.


Narrator Thoughts:
•Narrators: MK Blackwood and Christian Fox
•Duet Narration. 1.7x
The narrators were chefs kiss!!! I couldn't even imagine any other narrator combo than MK and ChristianFox. You guys!!!! There is singing in it. and it melts my heart!!! The emotions that both MK and Christian bring to Remi and Foster. you feel the hurt, the joy and Pain. This audiobook is one I will forever be recommending! 10 out of 10! Highly recommend

Emotional, engaging, affecting performances!

BEFORE...I had not heard of author C.G. Blaine, but two of my favorite narrators were narrating this rockstar romance in duet.

NOW...I am adding every one of Blaine's backlist titles to my TBR and need a magnifying glass to find and pick up all the pieces of my shattered heart.

Documentary filmmaker Remi Sinner shows up to shadow rock band Of Men and Wolves on the second half of their world tour, eager and excited to make her mark as a filmmaker while capturing intimate behind the scenes footage of life on tour.

Only the enigmatic and elusive frontman, Adams North, is no stranger to Remi...in another life, another time, the broken girl and wandering boy burned brightly for each other. She was his muse. Then, Remi disappeared, leaving pain and longing in her wake.

Now, what has been buried between both of them is unearthed, shaken loose. Will these two be able to overcome the resentment and hurt and misunderstanding and cling only to the things that made them perfect for each other all those years ago?

Yes, dear listener, but not before this angsty, engaging, engulfing, twisty-turny story tugs at every. single. emotion you have.

Blaine's writing is rich, deep, and affecting. Her turn of phrase, her weaving of words all lend themselves beautifully to this story.

Add in the sublime voice talents of narrators M.K. Blackwood and Christian Fox, and you are in for an emotional, haunting, and breathtaking listen.

Blackwood eats and leaves NOTHING on the table as Remi. The tension between vulnerability, passion, and pain in her delivery is unreal. She took us all with her on Remi's journey and I am undone.

Fox's charming, broken, filthy-mouthed, it's always been her Foster/Adams was everything I would want in an MMC. And the best surprise? His singing voice. I need the full album, please.

Before Now is available everywhere audiobooks are sold.

You absolutely won't want to miss this one.

Their broken and jagged pieces fit together

Wow! This book is an intense emotional roller-coaster and I loved every minute of it. The narrators performance is perfection! They truly brought Foster and Remy to life. Foster and Remy are to two people who have lived very rough lives and build a bond after connecting through an app. After 5 years they meet up and my gosh their chemistry is hot. These two have so many secrets, lies and hurt to unpack. I love their journey through it all, good and bad, and how they come out on the other side. I for sure shed a few tears. Well deserved and beautifully written hea. Definitely a 5 star must read.

I was sent an advanced copy audiobook from HCB and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.