Cruel Kiss

By: K.A. Linde

Narrated by: Erin Mallon, Joe Arden

Length: 1 hr and 44 mins

Publisher's Summary

A sexy one-night stand romance set in the glitz and glamorous Cruel World by USA Today best-selling author K.A. Linde....

Gavin King is not boyfriend material.

And neither am I.

That’s how our friendship works. We flirt and tease and joke, but at the end of the day, playing wingman is preferable to risking my heart.

Until I break up with my boyfriend the day that I leave for a two-week Caribbean vacation. And Gavin and I are the only single people on the island.

But remember that boyfriend I dumped?

Yeah, it’s his best friend.

The last thing I want to do is come between friends. And I swore the green eyes, wicked dimple, and chiseled body weren’t enough to convince me. But then I caught him in the shower…and he said he was thinking about me.

Now, I can’t stop picturing what I saw.

Maybe my ex doesn’t ever have to know.

©2023 K.A. Linde (P)2023 K.A. Linde

Whitley <3 Gavin

Thats how you do a prequel novella!! I can’t wait for CRUEL KING!! These two….GAH. The audio was amazing.

This audiobook pulled me in!

Whenever I get to dive into one of Ms.Linde's stories It always makes me smile. When I found out about this audiobook I couldn't wait to get into it. I enjoyed this listen oh so much!

Having listened to Erin Mallon and Joe Arden's narration many times before I was thrilled that these two were the narrators for Cruel Kiss! Both Erin and Joe had my undivided attention as Whitley and Gavin!

Great Prequel

This was a short novella introducing Gavin and Whitley. It was very fast-paced and steamy.

Whitley and Gavin are both players and afraid of commitment. Whitley breaks up with her boyfriend just before going on vacation with her friends — one of them being Gavin. They decide to have a vacation fling, but what will happen when the vacation ends?

Whitley and Gavin had such a great chemistry and I look forward to reading their story in Cruel King.

The narrators did a great job with both male and female voices, but I did have trouble understanding what they were saying sometimes.

Gavin and Whitley are red hot!!

Cruel Kiss is a preview into the fun, flirty, explosive dynamics of Whitley Bowen and Gavin King. Things get super steamy in this friends to lovers, one vacation stand, Cruel King prequel. K.A. Linde packs a ton of red hot chemistry into this short story.

Erin Mallon and Joe Arden do an incredible job bringing these characters to life. I'm not the biggest Erin Mallon fan, but her Whitley shines.

If it was K.A. Linde’s mission to get me even more excited for Gavin and Whitley than I already was, then mission accomplished. I'm positively obsessed with these two.

Sexy novella

What a fun and spicy novella! Cruel Kiss was just delicious-a fast paced and flirty introduction to Gavin and Whitley. The chemistry is combustible and we've got plenty of spice with their steamy night of fun. I'm excited to get their full story and see how things transpire- and the audio book had two of my favorite narrators with Joe Arden and Erin Mallon, so it was such a treat!

A little tease for Cruel King

Cruel Kiss is a novella introducing us to Whitley and Gavin. This is one of my favorite series and I have loved every book. Whitley isn’t part of the East Side rich group. Gavin is. Whitley just broke up with her boyfriend, Gavin’s friend. Is it worth the risk? The two have great chemistry. They sizzle! Gavin doesn’t do relationships, but Whitley has him wanting something with her. A group vacation may lead to other things.
I listened to the audio and thought the narrators did a great job portraying the characters.
I cannot wait for their story in Cruel King coming soon.

short and spicy

Two friends become lovers in this short and decidedly spicy romance. Whitney, recently broken up -- her call -- and afraid of commitments, acquiesces to a trip with long-time friend in a fake relationship. But make believe becomes real for these two players and Whitney's relationship insecurities re-emerge.

What I liked about this story:
- mature adults, confident in their sexuality
- the natural rapport between the two main characters, no games
- their attraction, so tangible that when the spice arrived -- and it arrived early and often, they were explosive
This story was hot!

What I wasn't so keen on:
- the constant reminder that Whitney was bisexual as if to say look how worldly and open she is.
It also wasn't dealt with naturally, as equivalent to her liking of men. Instead, the reminders of her bisexuality seemed reduced to just sex and her sex with other women.
- Whitney's fear or reluctance toward relationships.
I understand the character element, but I didn't feel the book delved into any of her rationale for her fear. It felt like a manufactured conflict. It was hard to empathize with Whitney, especially liking Gavin.
- long separation that wasn't necessary
A plot element that is so common it's frustrating. Also, given how well Whitney's maturity was depicted, a separation wasn't very credible. I guess I was supposed to attribute their hook up to just a fling, remembering that Whitney was relationship-skittish?

Voice performance were great, both actors narrating women and men and distinctions in side characters well. The sound and tenor of male voice actor do not personally appeal to me, but his rendition skills can't be denied.

Overall, a fun story that while, short, was well-round. Great pace and dual, first-person points of view. Entertaining side characters.

Story: 3.5 stars
Performance: 4 stars

Loved

After breaking up with her boyfriend Whitley decides she still is going to go on vacation with her friends. One of those friends is Gavin, they have been flirty friends for years. After a night of drinking they make decisions that may or may not change their friendship. Spice level 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ I was given an audio arc for my review.

Addictive listen!

I just finished this fantastic audiobook and was left wanting more. This juicy, friend to lovers novella is so addictive. This story is full of passion and emotion. Two players spend an amazing night together but will they risk their hearts? I can’t wait to get my hands on the full length novel because I can’t get enough of this couple. I loved both voices and the narrators did a great job.

Fun and Steamy prequel

I listened to the audio of Cruel Kiss and it was flirty, steamy deliciousness. This short novella focuses on the fun, flirty relationship of friends Gavin and Whitley. The only singles on a vacation with their friends, their attraction for one another finally crosses the line one steamy night. Will what happens on vacation stay on vacation or have they found something that can last?

These two are hot together. I loved their fun and playful friendship and how they alike they are. Both are hesitant to voice their feelings so I’m anticipating that misunderstandings will abound in their full story that will be released in Cruel King.

Joe Arden and Erin Mallon narrated the audio and they were perfection. Both of these narrators always bring the story to life and help you lose yourself in the story. I can’t wait for Gavin and Whitney’s full story and to find out what happens next.

Loved this prequel to Gavin and Whit!

This was an amazing introduction to these characters and their dynamics! I have not read/listened to anything within this world yet and I was enthralled and can't wait for Cruel King! The narrators are perfect for playing Gavin and Whit!

Whitney and Gavin!

When Whitney’s boyfriend couldn’t get away to attend the getaway that was planned with her friends, she realized she wasn’t upset and it was time to end their relationship.

Gavin is friends not only with Whitney but with the man who is her ex-boyfriend. He has had feelings for Whitney for while but while they are away the sparks fly.

This is a friend to lovers’ story with chemistry that radiates off the pages and leaves us wanting more. The narrators portrayed the fun and flirty relationship they shared to perfection.

Loved it

I loved this story. Cruel Kiss was a fast-faced, fun, ste@my novella that introduced us to Garvin and Whitney, two friends who are the same in many way. I loved these main characters. I love the flirty, playful relationship they had. The chemistry between them was intense & their sizzling hott bedroom scenes practically burned up the pages of the novel. I loved this introduction to this couple & I can't wait for more.

The narrators were phenomenal. Joe Arden & Erin Mallon really embodied these characters & brought the story to life. It was a pleasure listening to them narrate this novel. 

Short but steamy

Erin and Joe did an absolutely fantastic job narrating this short but steamy read.

Gavin and Whitley's flirty natures made this book super easy to listen to.
They were fun friends with a healthy helping of chemistry. In fact, their transition into "more" was possibly one of the most entertaining short audiobooks I have ever listened to.