Staged

A Slow Burn, Fake Dating, Musician Romance

By: C. L. West

Narrated by: Alexandra Brock

Her future plans are ruined,
His past threatens to destroy him,
What they both need right now, is a simple staged distraction....

Samantha's entire life plan crashes in a single moment. Now she's drunk in a hotel, her left hand a whole lot lighter, her heart a whole lot heavier. All she wants is to feel nothing--and what better way to numb the pain than a drink?

Kolt's career has been skyrocketing on stage and his life has been spiraling in memories. Everyone is trying to keep him moving forward, moving on, but nothing chases away the memories of broken love.

Nothing, that is, until he meets the redhead at the hotel bar who looks like she's just as broken as he feels.

Now, they realize that they might have what the other needs in order to survive for a little while.

He can help her move forward to find her new future
She can help him prove he won't let the ghosts of his past ruin his future

All they have to do is let people think they moved one.

But it's not easy to fall in love when everything is so perfectly Staged....

©2024 C. L. West (P)2024 C. L. West

Enchanting!

When Sam walks in on her fiance and best friend in a compromising position, she actually apologizes to them before she runs out the door in pain. Leaving her life and belongings behind, she rents a room at a luxury hotel and her new life begins. Kolt and his band have just finished a concert and there's adrenaline flying, but Kolt is lost in a nightmare of his girlfriend leaving him for another bandmate and it doesn't appear as if he'll recover soon. The saying "a man walks into a bar," is the literal beginning of Sam and Kolt's story. She's been there awhile, being bothered by a smarmy man, so Kolt steps in to save her and ends up rescuing her from the unwanted advances. He takes care of her and he shares his own painful story. They decide to help each other out by faking a relationship with a contract and an end date, but neither of them got the message and things become real. I loved this story in its entirety with the backdrop of a country band finding its footing and Kolt and Sam facing reality. Spoiler alert: that contract was successfully ripped up and replaced by a new proposal. The narration was well-done by Alexandra Brock. Her dynamic, clear voice gave each of the characters a unique personality and attitude. 

Fun Romance with a Little Drama

This was a delightful romance! I absolutely loved the first two-thirds of the book—they had me hooked. Sure, the main female character had a few moments when she got on my nerves, but it didn’t really take away from the overall story. I was also hoping for a little more revenge on the people who totally deserved it—but hey, maybe that’s just me.

The romantic moments could’ve been a bit spicier for my taste, but I’m sure plenty of readers will appreciate the softer approach. If there’s a sequel in the works, I’m 100% on board. The narrator did a pretty good job, though I think a touch more emotion would’ve made it even better. All in all, a good story!

Pulling my heartstrings.

Yes, a very slow burn, but so very good. I really fell for Kolt and Sam. Fake relationship. Troubled pasts. Country singer. Second chance.

I was gifted an Audible version of this book from the author through Story Origin. The narrator was pleasant to the ear. But I felt she got a little too rhythmic at times. Would have liked more expression. This is a heartfelt book. 4 stars for her.

A Sweet & Entertaining Fake Relationship Romance

This audiobook was a delightful listen, especially for fans of country music star romances and the classic fake relationship trope. The story had everything you'd expect—chemistry, personal growth, and a romance that felt both sweet and satisfying.

Narration:

The narrator did an excellent job bringing both characters to life. Initially, I wasn’t sure if she’d pull off the male lead convincingly, but I was pleasantly surprised. She handled both perspectives well, making it easy to stay immersed in the dual POV storytelling. (For reference, I always listen at 1.7–2x speed, and the narration still flowed smoothly.)

Story & Characters:

The plot was engaging, with likable main characters who had a journey worth rooting for—both individually and as a couple. I particularly enjoyed the hero’s gentlemanly nature during their first meeting at the bar. It was a genuine meet cute moment that set the tone for their relationship.

The heroine was strong and relatable, though I was frustrated by one early moment—when she apologized for walking in on her fiancé cheating with her best friend (and maid of honor). However, I appreciated that she regretted it.

Final Thoughts:

This audiobook delivered exactly what I expected from a country music star fake dating romance—fun, heartwarming, and with just enough drama to keep things interesting. If you're looking for a well-narrated, engaging love story, I highly recommend it!

Enjoyable story

⭐4
🌶️1.5
🥵 Spicy Chapters: 21, 28, 31
📚 Tropes/Themes: country singer MMC, protective MMC, slow burn, fake dating
🎙️ Single narration
⏲️ Approx 10 hours
👀 Dual POV 1st person
🩷 Something I liked: the song Kolt wrote for her 🥹
🙈 Something I disliked: the narrator's attempt at a guy's voice
🧠 Triggers: Implied DV, cheating
🛍️ Available: Now!

💬 Overall, this was a sweet and satisfying story that I enjoyed listening to! The storyline was great, and I was rooting so hard for Kolt and Sam, while simultaneously being desperate for them to get on the same page lol. I also get that it’s kind of the main point of the book but towards the end the “but you’re just a distraction” seemed a little overdone and repetitive.

I like that it’s pretty low angst, but I do wish there had been more resolution with their ex’s. And can I just say what kind of trashy h*e wants to wear her ex bestie’s engagement ring? 😂😂😂 I mean, maybe Felix got it planning to give it to Emily but gave it to Sam first??? I laughed so hard at that.

As for the narrator, I’m really not a fan of her fake man voice. I really wish she would have just read the book straight without trying to differentiate between Kolt and Sam.