Moonlighter

By: Sarina Bowen

Narrated by: Jason Clarke, Lucy Rivers

Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Only in my family could a professional hockey player earning seven million dollars a year be considered a slacker.

I’m at the height of my athletic career. Yet my arrogant brother is always trying to recruit me into the family business: a global security company so secretive that I don’t even know its name. Pass, thanks. I don’t need a summer job. 

But the jerk ambushes me with a damsel in distress. That damsel is Alex, the competitive, sassy girl I knew when we were kids. Now she’s a drop-dead gorgeous woman in deep trouble. So guess who’s on a flight to Hawaii? 

It’s going to be a long week in paradise. My job is keeping Alex safe, while her job is torturing me with her tiny bikinis. Or maybe we’re torturing each other. It’s all snark and flirting until the threat against Alex gets serious. And this jock must become her major league protector. 

Moonlighter is a stand-alone novel. No cliff-hangers, no prior experience necessary. Contains: hackers, hockey players, and a hotel room with only one bed.

©2019 Sarina Bowen (P)2019 Sarina Bowen

female narration ruined it for me.

I was interested in the story, the Male narrator was on point, by the second chapter with the female narrator I couldn't continue...

Female narrator was painful

I love Sarina Bowen’s books, and I’m always happy to listen to Jason Clarke. I’d never listened to Lucy Rivers and she has now been added to my list of narrators who will lead me to skip an audiobook. The WORST attempt at male voices I have EVER heard. I cringed every time one of her chapters started. I haven’t even finished the book yet, but the story is pretty good. I am just so bummed that this one narrator is ruining the whole experience for me. Do yourself a favor and read the eBook instead.

Some Unanswered Questions

I loved Alex and Eric and have enjoyed most of the Brooklyn Bruisers stories. However, I was surprised when this one ended. I kind of feel like I was left hanging! So I guess I’ll be on the lookout for “Part 2.” I would really have rather had a longer book. Otherwise, I enjoyed the book until it ended so abruptly.

The narrator's male voices almost made me stop

This is a great story and for the female POV the narrator was fine. But on man...she can not do male voices. If you are sensitive to voices just read this one.

Friends to lovers romance, suspense and hockey make for an auspicious beginning to a new series...

This first installment of a brand new series from Sarina Bowen shows the author to be at the top of her game. Moonlighter takes off from the world of Bowen’s very popular Brooklyn Bruisers series and launches the reader into a world of corporate espionage and cyber-suspense. At the center of it are veteran hockey forward Eric Bayer and media mogul Alex Engels, two secondary characters familiar to Bruisers fans who happen to have history of their own.

Eric and Alex first meet as middle schoolers left to their own devices over a summer who share loss and loneliness but find a kindred spirit in each other. Their lives intersect again twenty-one years later at a swank party, but the reunion is a disaster. Circumstance and a family connection throw them together again months later, when Eric is cajoled into moonlighting for the family security business by posing as Alex’s fake boyfriend (and protector) at a conference in Hawaii. Their childhood connection gives way to sizzling chemistry in a tropical setting and suddenly things aren’t so simple between them. The crossroads they are each at individually - Eric facing the specter of retirement due to injury, Alex tackling single motherhood and a cyber hacking threat to her company - make things even more complicated. But the pull is strong and inevitable.

Their road to each other takes as many twists and turns as a great car chase (of which there is one in the novel). The world of hockey collides with high stakes corporate espionage and it’s as wild a ride as it sounds. An assortment of new characters from both worlds make an exceptional supporting cast whose stories want to be told as the series continues, (chief among them Eric’s broody genius brother Max and his firecracker agent Bess). Cameos from favorite Bruisers characters will definitely delight fans of the prior series. However, at its center, Moonlighter is a story of two adults who stumble into choosing each other; their struggles with self doubt making it hilarious, their shared history making it poignant, and their self awareness and maturity making it tender.

This is next-level romance, people. It’s an exciting, rich and satisfying story that stays with you.

A note about the Audible version: Jason Clarke and Lucy Rivers are perfect as Eric and Alex. Nuanced performances from both. Jason Clarke in particular also does a wonderful job of giving voice to the supporting characters which results in several hilarious moments.

Great book

What a great book! A little suspense, some laughs and a lot of romance. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

Moonlighter

I immediately wanted to listen to this audiobook after I finished listening to it. Great story. A mystery, humor, romance, a baby- Moonlighter has it all! Do yourself a favor. Give Moonlighter a try.

The Swoon Factor is off the charts!!!

I loved reading this book, and listening to it only made it better. If that’s even possible.

Jason Clarke and Lucy Rivers did an amazing job as usual, but they were perfect portraying Eric and Alex.

I mean, who doesn’t love Jason Clarke? His voice suits Eric so well, it’s a dream listening to him. And Lucy Rivers is perfect as Alex.

I would recommend listening to this book to anyone who loves romance, excellent stories, and amazing narration.


I honestly don’t know what to say about this book because “amazing” or “really freaking awesome” don’t make it justice. It’s intense, romantic, steamy, hilarious, and so heartwarming that it literally leaves you breathless. It makes you feel so many different things at once. It’s hockey with a twist of suspense. And the swoon factor is off the charts.

Sarina Bowen has the uncanny ability to outdo herself every single time she writes a new book. In theory, it doesn’t really surprise me because she’s got some very wicked writing skills. But the truth is that it does surprise me. She just leaves me in awe of her talent. Every. Single. Time. I love how gorgeous her writing is. How she develops not only the story, but her characters. I love how real they feel, their hidden depths and flaws, and how they evolve as the story progresses. Her narrative is easy to read and it flows naturally. She makes it look so simple, and that’s her genius on display, because it can’t possibly be easy to do. I especially appreciate how witty she is, how skillfully she weaves humor into her writing without making them comedies. She’s known for making people cry and laugh at the same time, and I really love that about her.

Moonlighter is book one of The Company, a new series that is actually a spin-off of her Brooklyn Bruisers series. It is a complete standalone, so you really don’t need to read any other book to enjoy this one to the fullest. Having said that, if you haven’t read the Brooklyn Bruisers series, trust me on this, you have to. It’s phenomenal. We first met Alex Engels in Brooklynaire, and Eric Bayer has been a member of the Brooklyn Bruisers team since Rookie Move, but he’s been mostly in the background until Overnight Sensation.

Moonlighter is a perfect combination of old and new. We get to hang out with old favorites like Nate, Becca and Bingley, and at the same time we are introduced to a whole new cast of characters that will hopefully get their own stories. I’m crossing all my fingers here. We get introduced Max, Gunnar, Pieter, and Scout. Max Bayer is Eric’s older brother and the director of The Company, a security agency with no known name. The name is need-to-know only, so we’ll hopefully find out more about it soon. I found him to be the most interesting of the new guys. I honestly can’t wait to read more about him and his secret past. It’s so intriguing!

Alex and Eric were childhood friends who lost contact for over twenty-one years, and who due to an awkward reunion, find themselves at odds for a while. But her circumstances and his chivalry put them in close quarters together, sharing a bed in Hawaii and pretending to be a couple. The attraction is mutual and resisting each other turns their interactions into a sort of battle of wills. The fact is that they find themselves at a crossroads in their lives, facing changes they’re not ready for, and that makes their relationship more of a challenge. But when danger seems to keep following Alex, Eric takes the role of her protector again, willingly this time, and makes it his mission to keep her safe and convince her that they belong together.

I loved their interactions since the beginning. The witty banter, the teasing, the heat and sincere affection between them, their chemistry. Everything. I must confess that Eric Bayer caught me off guard. He is without a doubt one of the swooniest, most adorable book boyfriends I have ever come across. OMG! The guy is so smooth and sweet! I wasn’t expecting that level of awesomeness from him. For a growly and grumpy set-on-his-way athlete, he sure knows how to be charming. He’s definitely a keeper.

Moonlighter is basically the same greatness Sarina Bowen usually delivers, but with a different feel. It’s unique and outstanding, a real pleasure to read. I loved it from start to finish, but even though I didn’t want it to ever end, the ending was my favorite part of the story. It brought tears to my eyes. The happiest of tears. It is heart-meltingly beautiful. Five stars fall short with this one.

My new favorite Sarina Bowen title!

This was such a great book. Romance, mystery, romcom, sports romance - you name it, this book has it! Eric is a fun and hot male lead, and Alex is a feisty, determined female lead. Add to that the familiar Brooklyn Bruisers players, the new family members, a lot of laughs listening to the characters’ inner monologue, and this book is clearly a hit. I can’t wait for more in this new series!

Nerd meets hottie!!

**Audiobook Review**

Alex and Eric made an adorable couple...eventually!! I really enjoyed the overall story, but felt like it ended very abruptly. I wish there was an epilogue to explain what happened with Alex’s situation. Much off the story was focused on this and then...nothing. I loved Jason Clarke as the narrator for Eric and despite other reviews, I enjoyed Lucy Rivers as Alex. She fit Alex’s age and personality. Definitely worth a credit!

Female narrator was awful

Story was good but rambled on in places. Male narrator was good but female narrator just ruined the whole story for me. Couldn’t wait for it to finish

Variable book

I think this book got better as it went on, but it was a bit shallow feeling for a lot of it. Lucy Rivers isn’t the best for communicating any depth, and her male voices lacked believe-ability unfortunately. Jason was decent, though, and I think his narration is what got me to like the book more later on. Sarina Bowen is incredibly talented so I know she can write exceptional books. I’ve got a feeling this was probably an ok/good story by her, but Lucy’s narration made it lose some of the magic in the telling. Still worth a listen though!

A romantic suspense (with a bit of hockey)

Got to say, I think Eric Bayer might just be the nicest, sexiest, and best book boyfriend ever! Add in the fact that I listened to the audio version of this book and Jason Clarke only added to my Eric Bayer crush. I was in my element. The story had everything - romance, action, a little hockey, a little suspense, and, I’ll say it again, Eric Bayer. Let’s not forget the lucky lady who gets to spend time with Eric, CEO and business owner Alex Engles, got to say I was a little jealous. Eric is recruited by his brother Max (who is in charge of protection detail for Alex) to be her temporary boyfriend. The inevitable happens, and they start an on again, off again relationship, the reason it’s not a permanent fixture is Alex and her stubborn independence, as well as a not so happy ex boyfriend, a baby on the way, oh, and a number of security issues/threats against Alex and her company. All this causing more than a few headaches for Alex, and Eric. Perfect narration and an addictive storyline with lots to keep me entertained throughout. I loved it.

A great start to a new series. Action and Love!

Oh when hockey and protector romances collide you get Moonlighter! Eric is a Brooklyn Bruiser but asked by his family to help protect an old family friend Alex while she’s at a conference in Hawaii. Go to a beautiful country with a beautiful woman, what could go wrong? Well he didn’t reckon on falling in love and so their story is told.

It’s never a chore listening to Jason Clarke read. He has such a lovely deep raspy voice and is so good at conveying emotions. He gives us the fierce protector that is Eric. Lucy Rivers did a great job of letting us feel Alex’s emotions too. A fantastic audiobook all round.

I loved that there were still hockey elements in this book, as you know I’m a hockey romance addict but there was a shed load of action too. There are twists and turns, one of which will smack you like you’re being checked on the ice. There is fun and laughter but also lots of care and tenderness too with a sprinkling of heat to keep you turning those pages and from hitting that stop button.

A great start to the spin off series from the Brooklyn Bruisers

This one surprised me!

This one, really surprised me, in a positive way. I really liked the storyline. And Jason is a really good narrator. But I also liked Lucy. Her voice fitted well to the accomplished business. Alex, in the story.

I like it when Sarina writes dialog with a bit of humor in it, and this one is no exception. So this book, Overnight Sensation and Brooklynaire is my favorite so far, in the series.

Blend of sports romance and romantic suspense

Moonlighter is a good blend of sports romance and romantic suspense. Eric Bayer is a player on the Brooklyn Bruisers and the story introduces his brother Max’s Security firm that is so secretive it is known only as The Company.

Alex has quite a lot going on in her life. The Company is tasked with keeping her safe but they have to first find out where the threat is coming from. Her childhood friend Eric is roped into helping his brother’s company and acting as Alex’s fake boyfriend on a trip to Hawaii.

“One does not win an argument with a woman, one simply survives it.”

I loved listening to this story on audiobook. The narration was great and really kept me invested in the story.
-4.5 Stars!-

Intrigue and hot

Eric and Alex are narrated perfectly. I loved everything about this story and thought that the narrative was awesome.

FANTASTIC

I have listened to all the series and I have to say I have enjoyed them all so much.
this book was truly amazing and Is a good lead in to other characters while still involving hockey.
I found this book written to perfection a little bit of steam and a whole load of laughs.
It is a shame you can only give 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🎉🎊