My Life as a Mixtape

My Life as an Album, Book 4

By: LJ Evans

Narrated by: Sarah Puckett, Michael Norman Johnson

Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

"One mistake doesn't make you a failure".

I always saw relationships as a burden instead of a gift...until my world imploded...until Wynn showed me their true value. Now, I have to find a way to convince her that I've changed my tune.

Bass player, Lonnie Brennan, is known as the band's overgrown jokester. He came to Tennessee to make sure his best friend and bandmate didn't disappear after falling in love and moving across the country in just three short weeks. What Lonnie doesn't expect is to fall in love himself...with the Southern charm and sweet-tea lifestyle of the small town he's landed in. He certainly isn't in the mood to be attracted to a tall Strawberry Shortcake who is entirely off limits.

Wynn Nichols is known as the conscience of her friends. She's always been the stable one - until both her marriage and her job drift away. Now, she's come home feeling like a disappointment and a failure. With divorce papers in hand, she certainly isn't looking to be attracted to anyone, and certainly not the redheaded lumberjack who treats life like a series of jokes.

But when Lonnie finds himself saving her more than once, and Wynn finds herself helping him shoulder responsibilities he never expected to have, they form an unlikely friendship that gets them through the darkest days of their lives.

Question is, will they risk that friendship for a chance at something more?

Inspired by a whole mixtape of artists, comes a novel from award-winning author, LJ Evans, about hope and new beginnings.

My Life as an Album series is a set of interconnected standalone novels.

©2018 LJ Evans (P)2023 LJ Evans

Mixtape Life

Oh my, this story took my breath with the characters as it all played out. You become part of the crew in the story pushing through the lows and highs in life as they do hoping all will be well until the last drop and you get the happy ending. It reminded us all that love is a part of life and we do have to work and fight to make it work out for us all to reach our happy ending. Loved the double narrative. Do wish that the song quotes had been played or sung rather than read but they had a part in the story too.

A Must Listen!

This is the 4th book in the “My Life as An Album” series. LJ Evans is the master telling a story using song lyrics. Each chapter starts with a verse from a song that ties in with the story. LJ always gives us wonderful characters whose stories suck you in from the very first page. They are so endearing that you’re on the edge of you seat hoping that they will get their happily ever after. Wynn has experience heartbreak in the past and I think she had resigned herself to being alone. That is, until Lonnie comes along and eases his way into her life and heart.

This story is beautifully narrated by Sarah Puckett and Michael Norman Johnson. Sarah has such a gift with bringing out the emotion of her characters. She never ceases to amaze me. Great narration by Sarah and Michael.

Right in the feels!!

Wow, I was NOT expecting Lonnie and Wynn's book to hit me right in all my feelings!!

Prior to this book, I really hadn't connected with either character, but from the very beginning of this Audible, I was hooked.

Wynn is from a small Tennessee town and has pretty much played second fiddle her whole life. Best friends with Cam and Mia from birth she's used to being overlooked, first because of Cam's big, bold personality and second because of her inherent shyness.

She also has not had good luck with men, such bad luck in the last year, in fact, that Wynn has pretty much sworn off all future endeavors with men. Recovering from a divorce most recently, and other sadness that would knock the wind out of any womans sails, Wynn packed up her apartment in Nashville and moved home to live with her parents. All of this is contributing to the misguided notion she has that she's a failure. Being stuck in a short term job as a temporary nurse, and having agreed to house sit for Mia and Derek while they're off on their honeymoon, is only making her even more exhausted and sad than she was before.

Lonnie is the bass player in Derek's band, and while he is originally from L.A., he quickly fell in love with Tennessee, finding it to be the home he's never really had. So when Derek moved from L.A. to be with Mia, Lonnie followed him. Lonnie's parents are the exact opposite of Wynn's parents, having never really taken the time to parent him so that Lonnie was forced to grow up quickly to keep himself and the rest of his family safe. Because of this Lonnie never really has any intentions of settling down, he's been responsible for so long that he's decided this is his time to let it all hang out. He just never figured on falling for a little strawberry shortcake of a girl almost immediately.

After Derek and Mia's wedding reception, Lonnie watches Wynn get totally wasted at a bar, and rather than take the chance that someone will try to take advantage while she's not herself, Lonnie sees Wynn home. He can tell she's drowning in a sea of grief, but he's already dealt with one woman who is not safe 90% of the time earlier in life and he just can't be responsible like that again, plus Wynn has family and a whole boatload of friends in this tiny town, surely one of them will step up and help her get back on track. Lonnie doesn't count on the fact that Wynn would have to be truthful with all those family and friends for someone to be able to help her the way she needs, so imagine his surprise when the whirlpool Wynn is getting sucked into just keeps moving faster and faster!

Wynn and Lonnie's story is sweet, and sad and loving, all while building that Slow Burn tension LJ Evans writes so well. There is so much miscommunication, and sometimes outright avoidance of telling each other the truth, that I fought hard against wanting to throw my phone against the wall. I think aside from My Life as A Country Album, this is the most angst riddled book in the series, and I absolutely loved ALL OF IT!

I loved both narrators voices, and that the opening lines of the songs for each chapter were read in as they started. That helped me to keep connected to a playlist I'm very, very fond of, and just overall enhances the enjoyment of My Life As a Mix Tape. Obviously there's a lot of the story line I'm leaving out here, but it is so worth it to go into LJ's books blind! She has so much love for her characters, the words, and the music each book is set to, just trust her to tell you the story as you need to hear it, and know that the ending is beyond beautiful.

Wynn and Lonnie are amazing, and I adore the love and care the narrators obviously have for the characters they're speaking for. I was thrilled to have been able to listen to the audiobook, as well as reading My Life as A Mix Tape! Worth 6 stars at least!!

Maybe the best one yet in this series!

I absolutely love every single book in this series! LJ Evans does not disappoint with this book. I love how she brings in characters from the other stories so we know what’s going on with them. Wen’s story is heartbreaking yet beautiful all at the same time. Sarah Evans and Michael Johnson does a fantastic job with the narration!

My Life as an Album Series

My Life as a Mixtape (My Life as an Album, Book 4) is the final book in this unforgettable series. I absolutely love how this author incorporates music in her writing. An award deserving series that captures your heart and soul and keeps a part of it with you forever. Lonnie and Wynn's lovestory brings a dollop of angst, slathers of drama and a slice of humor. I loved the cameo appearances and the discussions of the characters in the previous books. I absolutely love the characters and their stories. This is one series that you need your tissue box next to you while listening. I absolutely loved the ending. I highly recommend listening to this entire series.

Narrators Sarah Puckett, Michael Norman Johnson dual naration performance brought the lovestory to reality. Sarah Puckett is the perfect leading lady and one of my favorite narators and her performance was flawless. Her tone is intoxicating. Michael Norman Johnson performed well, I just didn't love his inflection. His character portray of Lonnie was well played. A extremely entertaining listen. I'm just sad to see it end. A definite relisten series

Another fantastic listen!

LJ Evans never disappoints. I listened to this one due to the fact that I absolutely love listening to Sarah Puckett.

The great thing about LJ's stories are that she starts each chapter with a song. It is great to stop and listen to the song first.

The story of Lonnie and Wynn was fantastic. I loved how she covered many different topics in this book. I always hate to see them end. I loved this series so much. I loved following the characters from book to book.

FANTASTIC READ!!

I listened to the Audible edition, Sarah Puckett and Michael Norman Johnson are fabulous narrators and voice artists. They do more than give the characters their voices, they fall into the roles and become the character. This book hit all the emotional marks for me, have a tissue ready as there may be a couple tears especially at the end.
Wynn & Lonnie are perfect for each other!! Yet again, LJ Evans delivers a spellbinding story that leaves you breathless. The ups, downs, sizzle, passion and the intense raw emotions. It has everything you need for a brilliant story! I highly recommend this series (whether you read the series or listen to all of the audiobooks). You won’t be disappointed!!

Wynn and Lonnie!!!

I am not surprised that I lived this... because I have loved every single word of LJ Evans I have ever read. She’s such a talented writer, and there is so much love and laughter in every book!

Sarah Puckett is a definite favorite narrator for me... she , as usual, put her heart into her voice in this book. That makes the book for me. Being able to feel as I’m listening makes the book a better listen! Michael Norman Johnson is quickly becoming a favorite for me as well! I love his voice and his inflections. He’s pleasant to listen to as well.

Love can find us

After Wynn’s divorce she’s just not sure love is in the cards for her. Lonnie hasn’t been shown how relationships could work except from his friend Derek. Lots of trials and tribulations for these 2 before they realize what they can have. This author is spectacular with this series.
The narrators were good too.

The series is complete...

Following Wynn and Lonnie in their journey of self discovery. Coming to terms with their respective pasts, their gilts and their demons was beautiful to feel part of...

It's also been great to carry on following characters from the previous books and to hear of their growth.

Everything happens for a reason and I believe this book has a heart warming ray of hope for the readers/listeners

A performance that felt like it had been taken back to the raw bare bones... You could really feel and believe their emotions..  Truly stunning!

Such a great story with excellent narration

Man I love the books in this series and this one was no exception. I did struggle a bit at the beginning to remember all the connections from the previous books but that was handled in such a good way as the information was dripped in across the story. And what I story, I really enjoyed it. It kept me hooked in throughout and I loved watching them work things out. Michael Norman Johnson and Sarah Puckett do such a great job with the narration. They bring such life to the characters. A joy to listen to.

A Heartfelt & Brilliantly Beautiful Story & Listen

LJ Evans delivers another outstanding novel in her “My Life as an Album” series and while I loved each book I think this one was my favorite, ok to be fair I felt that way after each book, so keeping it fair I will say this is one of my favorite series. While this is a series of stand-alone books, I recommend reading or better yet listening to the entire, they are all amazing. Each book is inspired by a song, the song for Mixtape is “Drunk Girl” and it is Lonnie Brennan and Wynn Nichols’s story. They have connection with characters from the earlier books, Lonnie is Derek Waters’ friend and bandmate, when Derek moved to Tennessee he went with him. Wynn Nichols is grew up in Tennessee and is friends with Cam and Mia. She left town after getting marriage but is back and not just for her friends wedding but for good. After a failed marriage she feels like a failure and that her life is in shambles. Fate or maybe it was help from their friends have Lonnie and Wynn’s path cross more than once. The two have different mind sets about relationships, he is a player and thinks she is a forever type of girl, something he is not interested in. But she is in a place where she wants nothing to do with men. But there is no denying that there is something between them and they wind up becoming friends and each others shoulder to lean on. I absolutely loved these two together and for each other, they opened up to each other and felt at ease to share what they were feeling and going through. My heart went out to both of them, each had their inner demons and carried their own burdens and guilt. I just adored these characters, Edie too, and that cape and what it meant to her, such a heartrending scene. I loved everything about this book, the story is beautifully plotted and there is never a dull moment. There is lots of drama, some angst, some humor too, many heartfelt and emotional moments, some heartbreaking ones and a great slow burn friends to lovers romance. An ending so worthy of the journey. LJ Evans, thank you for another beautifully moving story, words can not give it enough praise.

🎧📚🎧 And for the wonderful narration, Sarah Puckett and Michael Norman Johnson are awesome narrators and voice artists. They did an amazing job portraying these these characters, humanizing them as they bring them to life, giving each their own distinct voice and personality. Sarah Puckett played Wynn’s role with perfection, her southern accent and charm was spot on, she captured every one of her emotions and vulnerabilities and reflected them in her performance. Her Edie was amazing as were the secondary characters. Michael Norman Johnson was the perfect Lonnie, captures his humor and all his emotions too. These two are entertaining and mega talented storytellers, they are a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another awesome listen🎧