Stealing Hearts

Wild at Heart, Book 1

De: Lex Martin

Narrado por: Sebastian York, Vanessa Edwin

A marriage of convenience might save his ranch, but will it break her heart?

I don’t remember a time when I didn’t love Rhett Walker, which is complicated since he’s ten years older and my brother’s best friend. After a falling out, we didn’t speak for years—until today, when he found me sleeping in my car, threw me over his shoulder, and dragged me “to safety.”

He’s grumpy and overprotective and even more handsome than I remembered. I’m shocked to learn he’s in trouble. Someone is sabotaging his ranch, which is thirty days from foreclosure. He needs a loan from a friend who won’t extend the funds unless he’s married. Only Rhett’s now a single dad with no plans to fall in love again.

When his brother suggests I marry Rhett for health insurance so I can rehab an injury, my first reaction is hell no. I can’t afford to catch feelings for someone who won’t see me that way.

But spending time at the ranch reminds me how much is at stake—the family business, the welfare of Rhett’s children, and the happiness of a man I’ve always longed for.

Rhett says we’ll keep things platonic in private, even though I’ll be sleeping in his bed. He refuses to mix business with pleasure.

Except when the lights go out in his bedroom, our chemistry is too explosive to contain.

Would it be so bad to fall for Rhett? Or will he steal my heart all over again?

One thing’s for sure—the clock is ticking on our divorce.

Stealing Hearts is an age gap, marriage of convenience, single dad romance. If you enjoy grumpy cowboys, sweet but sassy heroines, a family of rowdy brothers, and secretive small towns, this book is for you!

©2025 Lex Martin (P)2025 Lex Martin

OMG Rhett is EVERYTHING!

This is was the first book I have listened to by Lex Martin and I will definitely be reading or listening to more. I was drawn in right away with this one. I listened to it in few day. It would have been sooner if I wouldn't have started it before the weekend. LOL The characters and story were well written and enjoyable.

The narrators Sebastian York and Vanessa Edwin were absolutely perfect! These two draw you in and make you feel the characters emotions. They held my attention and kept me entertained from the beginning until the end.

First off lets talk about the amazing RHETT!!!! He had me swooning so much throughout this book. He is definitely book boyfriend material. Rhett is a hard working man who is struggling to get by. He's on the verge of losing his family farm with his brothers, and he has a horrible ex wife which he shares two amazing boys with. He just wants things to start going in the right direction but everything just keeps going wrong. But one day his best friends sister Paige walks back into his life and things are going to get a lot more interesting.

Paige has loved Rhett since she was a kid. Her brother was best friends with Rhett so she was always around those two. When she ends up telling Rhett something she saw when she was a younger they didn't believer her thinking she was just jealous and being a kid. So Rhett stopped talking to her. So when she runs into him unexpectedly years later things are a little rocky at first. These two both need help and can help each other out so when Rhett's brother tells them to get married they decided to have a marriage of convenience for 6 months. Well I think we all know what happens in that situation.

This story had me laughing out loud so much, I was swooning and smiling like a crazy person, there was some heartfelt moments and there will be moments that will make you mad. But in the end you will be left with the most beautiful ending! I just fell in LOVE with Rhett and Paige and didn't want this story to end! I also loved the relationships they all had. Rhett with his brothers and his sons. Paige with his sons and his brothers. This is just a beautiful story and I HIGHLY recommend it. I can't wait to see what Lex Martin does next!

Unexpectedly phenomenal

Paige and Rhett have known each other for years, with Rhett being Paige's older brother's best friend, they spent their youth together, and Paige had the biggest crush on Rhett for as long as she could remember. But when they have a falling out and go no contact for years, their abrupt reunion is jarring for both of them and brings up a lot of feelings about their past and the years they missed of each other's lives. Now as adults, they each have changed and grown, but they are still able to feel the pull and care that was always there.
Rhett being in trouble with his ranch and a single dad of two boys, he needs to look like a family man to convince the powers that be that he is capable of taking care of his property and family. Paige is down on her luck after pulling into town with no home, no family, and no job after an injury that took her out of work, she's got nothing to lose in playing Rhett's game. With both down on their luck, they decide to make a pact and enter into a marriage of convenience that is meant to fool the entire town and all the active players in their game so they can get ahead of the bad luck that they both have stumbled upon. But Paige quickly realizes that her feelings for Rhett never really went away and Rhett has to grapple with his quickly growing attraction for his new wife.
As they navigate the growing issues on the ranch and trying to fight their growing feelings for each other, their marriage quickly becomes the real deal. But can they get past their trauma and find a way through their pain to choose happiness and each other on the other side?
With a riveting mystery woven into the story and watching these two work through their issues through trail and error, this story is rich with plot, love and spice. This was my first book by Lex Martin and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I was enthralled by the story. I am officially a fan and am excited for the next book in this series!
Sebastian and Vanessa and some of the best in the narration business and for a good reason. This title was no exception to that, bringing these characters to life in the best way possible and delivering performances that only enhanced the story.

Breath of fresh air

Stealing Hearts was a breath of fresh air and it stole my heart.
I was captivated from the first page to the last line and there was no putting down until the final word was read and even then I wanted more.
Sebastian York and Vanessa Edwin did a great job bringing the characters and their story to life. They were spot on with the love and the humour and they were very easy to listen to.
This is Rhett and Paige’s entertaining and at times emotional journey.
Rhett and Paige have known each other for years because he was her brother’s best friend and her teenage crush. He was the person who always had her back until one incident has her avoiding him and his family ranch. But when she finds herself sleeping in her car because she has nowhere else to go it’s Rhett who comes to her rescue and that’s when his brothers come up with a plan that helps their family and Paige. So will this fake marriage make or break them……
Stealing Hearts ticked all my boxes, I fell hard and fast for Rhett and I want Paige as my best friend. I swooned, I smiled, I giggled and I held my breath as I cheered this couple on.

Great listening and a terrific story!

Modern day ranching meets modern day romance in this wonderfully entertaining story. I listened to the audiobook version of this novel, narrated by Sebastian York and Vanessa Edwin. I recently read the ebook, and knew it was a great story. Hearing these skilled voice actors narrate the story made it even better. They completely expressed all the emotion and drama that Rhett and Paige lived through as their relationship developed. I was also impressed with their voicing of the secondary characters, making sure that each was distinctive and sounded "in character".

Ms. Martin got my attention right away when grumpy Rhett found Paige sleeping in her car in the middle of town.That was quite a scene! She kept me invested in her realistic cast of characters, and spun them a great story. Rhett and Paige discover that they each have problems that might be solved by a short term marriage. Lurking behind all this convenience are their long-denied feelings for each other, having known each other since they were children (Rhett being Paige's brother's best friend). It was fascinating to watch things develop little by little around the edges of all the other real life happenings - Rhett's ex-wife issues, worries about his sons, and just ranch life in general. The chemistry between Paige and Rhett is magnetic, and Ms. Martin brings all the spice! There is even a bit of a suspense plot involving vandalism around the ranch. I am most definitely looking forward to reading more installments in this series, hopefully featuring some of the secondary characters from "Stealing Hearts".

I was given an ALC and an ARC of this novel and happily volunteered to write a review

Great start to a series

This is the first book by this author for me and I was not disappointed. It’s small-town suspense, brother’s best friend, single dad, marriage of convenience and age gap. A little bit of everything and it all worked together seamlessly. Did I mention grumpy / sunshine? It has it all.

Paige grew up harboring a crush on her older brother’s best friend, Rhett. She leaves for school and doesn’t come back until years later with no job, an injured ankle and fresh off a break up. Rhett’s farm is in trouble and to secure the loan to save it, he needs to marry. His brother suggests Rhett and Paige marry for the loan and she can get the insurance she needs to rehab her injury.
Rhett is carrying a lot of baggage from his previous marriage. The ranch and his boys are his priority, but it doesn’t take long to realize, Paige is hard to resist. When he comes around, he is downright swoony. He’s fiercely protective, loyal and when Rhett loves, he loves hard.
Paige is no wallflower. Her history has forced her to be strong but underneath, she still struggles with insecurities and feeling vulnerable. She’s loving and absolutely dotes on Rhett’s sons, and it will melt your heart.

Narrated by Sebastian York and Vanessa Edwin. I will never complain about Sebastian York as the gruff, single dad that will do anything to protect his sons and save his ranch. Vanessa embodied every aspect of Paige from her positivity, vulnerability and strength when she needed it most.

This is more than Rhett and Paige’s romance. They, along with his brothers, deal with sabotage, custody battles, estranged family members and still hold strong in their support and love for each other. I can’t wait for more from this family and series.

second chance

Rhett is divorce and struggling with his farm and need a loan he need a wife. Paige is down on her luck and Rhett offer her a soution get married and she get insurance for her health. They set rules but rules get broken. they spend time together and Paige spend time with Rhett kids and they love paige. When Rhett ex wife Amber confronted Paige in front of her kids Rhett find out how his ex Amber treats their kids and file for emergency custody and he is granted he find out how mean she is toward them. their is a lot of drama and issues to resolve.
Paige has trust issues and insecurities about her past. When they found out who is sabotaging the ranch they cant believe it.
narrated by Sebastian York and Vanessa Edwin

Stole My Heart

Lex Martin’s “Stealing Hearts,” in its engaging audiobook format, delivers a charming and steamy marriage-of-convenience romance with a compelling emotional core. The narration done by Vanessa Edwin expertly captures the yearning and vulnerability of Paige, drawing listeners into her long-held affection for the brooding rancher, Rhett Walker, whose narration is done by Sebastian York. The premise – a fake marriage to save his beloved ranch – is a classic trope, but Martin injects it with fresh energy and genuine chemistry that keeps the listener invested.

The audiobook format enhances the internal conflict of Paige as she navigates the delicate balance between practical necessity and her undeniable feelings for Rhett. Her internal monologues, brought to life by the narrator, highlight the risk she’s taking by entering this arrangement, knowing Rhett views it purely as a business transaction. The added layer of Rhett being her brother’s best friend and ten years her senior adds a delicious layer of forbidden attraction and past history to their interactions.

Rhett’s gruff exterior and reluctance to love again are well-portrayed, creating a satisfying tension as the listener anticipates the inevitable crack in his walls. The dynamic between them is further complicated by his role as a single father, adding a layer of responsibility and tenderness to his character. The promise of platonic privacy while sharing a bed is a recipe for delightful anticipation, and Martin doesn’t shy away from the explosive chemistry that ignites when the lights go out.

“Stealing Hearts” isn’t just about the forced proximity and burgeoning attraction; it delves into themes of sacrifice, family loyalty, and the courage to pursue long-held desires. The ticking clock of their impending divorce adds a layer of urgency, forcing both characters to confront their true feelings before time runs out. This audiobook is a delightful blend of sweet and steamy, perfectly narrated to capture the emotional nuances and leaving listeners rooting for this unconventional couple to find their happily ever after, even if it means Rhett stealing her heart all over again.

Timing is everything

4.5⭐️

Rhett and Paige’s best friend’s little sister romance made me feel warm and gooey. Who doesn’t love a first crush?! Don’t even get me started on all those swoony Walker men. This was entertaining listen. I loved the suspense element. There were so many villains to pick from. I felt emotionally invested in the outcome of this story and Sebastian York and Vanessa Edwin’s talented voices took this small town tale to another level.

4.5 stars!

Paige had the biggest crush on Rhett Walker, her older brother's best friend. She had a secret she shared with Rhett. He didn't believe it was anything and went about his business which only led him down the path of divorce and shared custody of his two children. Fast forward to Paige injuring herself and not being able to start her job as a cheer coach after college. Her step-mother doesn't have space for her to convalesce. Rhett finds her sleeping in her car and that was the beginning of the Rhett and Paige show. It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience. Get Rhett and his brothers the bank loan for the ranch, and give Paige a place to stay and a job. But being around Paige, the way she interacted with the boys with love and care, taking care of everyone, making life a little bit easier for Rhett. Rhett began to see Paige in a different light, someone who was strong and resilient, supportive and compassionate, fiercely loyal and independent. The feelings that bloom between them is hard to tamp down.

The narrators, Vanessa Edwin and Sebastian York, were like music to my ears! Their voices were perfection for this couple. The emotions were palpable and the love shown through.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this review.

Cowboys!

There's something about a ranch that steals my heart. I get a bit swoony. Maybe it's the thought of the vast land and all the nature surrounding me. Add in some Rhett Walker, and I'm hooked.

Paige finds herself back in town, injured and without a job. She runs right into Rhett, her deceased brothers best friend that she grew up with. Well, she's about 10 years younger and grew up crushing on him.

Rhett's brothers come up with a genius idea. The banker wants to see stability to loan them the money for their failing ranch, and Paige needs health insurance and a place to stay. So why not get married until the bridge loan is due? Sure... why not!

The chemistry and heat between these two is hot and immediate. But both are unsure if they should go there with this temporary arrangement. However... that plan is pretty difficult to stick with.

Then enter a b* of an ex-wife who doesn't seem to care about their two young boys, and Paige's natural way with nurturing them and Rhett wants nothing more than to make this permanent.

I loved all the little ways that Paige continually showed her love for Rhett, the boys and the ranch. Finding her family in his family was so natural for her, but protecting her heart and her secret that this wedding may not be totally legit are heavy burdens.

There's a perfect camaraderie between these characters, spicy moments that bring the heat, and some mystery and intrigue on top of it all. Someone is sabotaging the ranch left and right, but who and why?

Add on to that - the narration duo is Sebastian York and Vanessa Edwin and you have an audiobook you do NOT want to miss. They were both perfect in their roles and you melted into this story at once.