Evie's Haven

By: Lisa Plaice

Narrated by: Maria McCann

Length: 6 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Is dating after forty really as hard as they say?

Well, Evie doesn't want to find out! Evie Jones is a widow of three years, with an eighteen-year-old daughter. Struggling to simplify her life and trying desperately to convince her daughter not to leave the nest. And her 'No Dating' rule is part of that struggle. So is selling her big house and moving into something smaller. To help with that plan, she hires a handsome contractor to complete her partially finished basement.

Sullivan Contracting owner Ryan Sullivan is still reeling from a bitter divorce. This handsome, hard-working bachelor, is starting to think he might stay that way. Especially after his best friends sign him up for a blind date that ends in disaster. But unbeknownst to them, Ryan has had his eye on someone special. Someone that has a strict 'No Dating' rule.

But when the attraction between Ryan and Evie builds, can Ryan convince Evie that some rules are made to be broken? Is he perhaps the one man capable of showing her that dating after forty doesn't have to be hard after all?

Steamy, funny, and romantic, "Evie's Haven" is a surprising mixture of laughter, swoon-worthy romance, and deeply emotional moments. Because life is messy, and laughter is too important not to share.

©2024 Lisa Plaice (P)2024 Lisa Plaice

2.75 Star Romance

2.75 ⭐️

Evie’s Haven was okay. There just wasn’t anything about it that made it stand out from other romances, but it wasn’t bad. The writing was actually very good, the story just felt so-so. It was relatively short, and it did seem rushed at times. I also think this could’ve been one romance that didn’t need a third-act breakup to cause conflict, because we were already getting conflict between Evie and her daughter Sarah. Considering Evie had been married previously and was well into her 40s, I would’ve thought that her communication with a partner would be a lot better and her jumping to conclusions was a lot less likely, but I was in fact wrong. The saving grace of the story was Ryan, who was a real cinnamon roll, great communicator (when Evie wasn’t dodging his every attempt at talking), and hardworking contractor.

I received this audiobook for free in exchange for an honest review.

Great Story & Narration🎧 Charming & Emotional!

This sweet and charming romance novel showcases mature characters who have already established their lives and are prepared to give love another chance. The characters are realistic and likable, easy to relate to and connect with, too. Evie Jones’ husband passed away three years ago, leaving her a single mom of their teenage daughter. Her daughter is looking at colleges and while she is hoping she will pick one close to home, her daughter has other dreams instead. Thinking ahead, she wants to get her basement finished, a job her husband started, but never got to finish. She calls Ryan Sullivan, the owner of Sullivan Contracting, to do the job. Ryan’s wife cheated on him and then made the divorce difficult, but he is ready to move on, except the woman he wants to move on with is not interested in dating. It was great to watch Evie and Ryan get to know each other, the chemistry between them was undeniable and it is a beautiful thing when they give into their desires. This well-written story has interesting storylines that captivate your attention and tug at your heartstrings the entire time. Lisa Plaice, thank you for this wonderful story and emotional rollercoaster ride. 

🎧📚🎧 Maria McCann did a fabulous job bringing the characters and story to life. She covered the roles of all the characters, giving each their own voice, making it easy to follow along and tell who was who. Her character voices were fitting, and she was believable in every role she played. She set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and had you feeling them all. McCann is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for this wonderful listen.