Sterling Brick

De: L.B. Dunbar

Narrado por: Stella Hunter, Patrick Zeller

Love wasn’t part of the blueprint when high school sweethearts reunite in their small town. But this former military man never forgot the girl he left behind and he’s more determined than ever for a second chance to rebuild their relationship brick by brick and heart by heart.

Getting locked in the men’s restroom during my mother’s funeral wasn’t exactly how I expected to run into my high school sweetheart. The one who got away. The one who broke my heart.

I could toss the busted doorknob in my hand at him, but I’d prefer to get the heck away. Because twenty years later, Knox Sylver isn’t a teenage boy anymore but a broad-shouldered, thick scruff man with eyes that still look at me like I’m the only person in the room.

As a newly divorced mother of two teenagers, it’s been a long time since anyone sees me. And Knox is definitely watching.

Unfortunately, he made choices in the past and I wasn’t one of them.According to him, that is ancient history.

Also, according to him, it’s never too late for a second chance. He’s out to prove he’s solid and stable, having returned to our small hometown, in a better place after a career in the military. He’s a local hero as a fireman and he wants to rekindle the flame between us.

I’m the one with decisions this round.

Do I stay where memories hurt? Or do I leave my past, and Knox, behind me again?

+ + +From L.B. Dunbar comes an all-new small-town romance with a big family and the silver fox swoon one expects from her love over-40 romances.

©2024 L.B. Dunbar (P)2024 L.B. Dunbar

A wonderful story about second chances

I am new to this author and the series , and if like me you have not read or listened to book 1, rest assure this one is a stand alone.
20 years ago, Knox Sylver and Halle Reynolds were HS sweethearts. But upon graduation, Knox leaves Halle behind, devastated and alone, to join the Navy and becoming a pilot.
Back for her mother’s funeral and recently divorced with two kids, Halle is planning to restore her mother’s home and sell it. The money will help her start her life anew.
When Knox sees her again, he remembers the girl he let go .
What happens when he decides to help her with the house ? Will Halle give him a second chance, one that Knox desperately wants but she fears will leave her once again heartbroken when he leaves her again?
This a wonderful, touching story about second chances in life and love. One that grabbed this listeners attention for the beginning to the end.
I also appreciated that the characters are older and likable.
Both Stella Hunter and Patrick Zeller did a great job with the narrations.
I was entrusted a copy of this audiobook. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Amazing story with fantastic narration!

Thank you Home Cooked Books for the ALC. Stella Hunter and Patrick Zeller deliver an amazing performance. They bring perfect emotion, personality and voice to each of the characters. I love how narrators bring a whole new experience to readers/listeners by bringing authors words to life through voice. LB writes amazing characters dealing with real life situations. Each of her books gets better and better. This is an amazing second chance romance that is full of past hurt, starting over, forgiveness and moving on. Halle is at a crossroads in her life, dealing with life changes which has her returning back to Sterling Falls…a place she doesn’t want to be. She needs to start over after her recent divorce and she currently feels “lost”. Knox is an amazing and patient man. He has always loved Halle but made some decisions that put a wedge between them when they were younger. He’s determined to win her back through his actions. This is a beautiful heartbreaking story of people who are resilient, determined and willing to take a second chance at love. Love this series and this book is an amazing addition.

Delightful Second Chance Romance!

This was a delightful second chance romance, and a first for me by this author. Hayley's life is in upheaval after a recent divorce, and the loss of her mother. She is back in her small town, a place that holds sad memories. She is there with her two children settling her mothers estate when she sees her first love. She and Knox were young lovers making plans for the future, when Knox suddenly joins the military, leaving her behind. Now, years later he is retired, and back home. When Knox sees Hayley again, he knows he needs to earn her trust, and convince her they were only on pause, and are meant to be together forever. Hayley realizes the love she had for Knox is still smoldering, ready to reignite. But she has her two children, and they always come first. I really loved how Knox and Hayley reconnect, getting to know each other as they are today. Knox was so swoony as he helped Hayley rediscover her adventurous side, and become the woman she was always meant to be. I also loved how they grew into a new, sweat and loving family.
Stella Hunter and Patrick Zeller did a terrific job capturing each characters personality. I love the emotion, and passion they brought to their performances, and I was completely invested in Hayley and Knox’s journey from start to finish.

Second Chance

3.5 stars

Sterling Brick is the second book in the Sterling Falls series, but it can be read as a standalone.

Knox and Halle were high school sweethearts, but he left her and joined the military. She moved on, got married and had kids…but ended up getting divorced. Now they’re both back in their small town, and it’s obvious they still have chemistry.

Halle had gone through a lot when she was younger, and she didn’t want to be like her mom. She was a good mom; she cared about her kids and their happiness. But she didn’t take much time to consider her own happiness, and Knox really helped her to realize that.

Knox was so sweet and just a total cinnamon roll. He cared so much about Halle and her kids, and he was determined to not let Halle get away again.

I enjoyed seeing these two get their second chance.
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Narrators: Stella Hunter and Patrick Zeller
Style: Dual

Stella and Patrick did a great job bringing the story to life. However, it sounded like Halle had a southern accent in the beginning of the book, and somewhere along the way, it wasn’t as strong or wasn’t there at all. It didn’t take me out of the story, but it was just something I noticed.

Knox & Hayley!

What do I love about this book? Everything! This is the kind of story that pulls at the heart strings. A second chance, military, single mom romance could not be better told than by LB Dunbar. Hayley is back in Sterling Falls after the death of her mother. Recently divorced, she is looking to update the house, sell it and start her life over with her two children. Little did she know Knox would be at the funeral. Knox is retired military, now living back home and when he sees Hayley, he knows it their time. Now to be patient and win her back. But is she willing to uproot her children from the place they know as home? Will her ex-husband play a part in her decision? And does her heart still belong to this man? I know mine would. Knox is sweet and warm. He knows his decisions have led them to where they are and they may not have been the right ones. Hayley carries a lot of guilt and fear when it comes to what makes her happy. She needs to sit back, reassess and get her life together. And the kids add to her thoughts. Love Tim and Violet, the kids we have all had and attitudes we have all dealt with. This story has a true to life feel with an incredible couple and town. I can't wait to visit again!

Stella Hunter and Patrick Zeller are the story tellers for this fabulous story and they make it real. Hunter becomes Hayley, portraying with true emotions of a mom, a daughter and an ex-wife. I could feel each one as she poured through the story. Zeller adds his voice as Knox, strong and loving and then at times extremely vulnerable. These two made this come alive and gave my heart all it needed.

Angsty second chance with chemistry and steam on the road back.

Story Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (0-5)
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 (0-5)
Overall Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (0-5)
Steam: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (0-5) (detailed & passionate)

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 The narration pulls you so into the story. Stella Hunter always brings the feels and Patrick Zeller is hawt—so sensual and in the moment. 😮‍💨
🤩 It’s second chance, in their place of so many memories and so much grief. It’s angsty and a little bit heart-wrenching. Knox Sylver: “I haven’t forgotten a thing, baby.” Halle Reynolds: “I want you . . . but I don’t know how to keep you.” They had my tears flowing multiple times.
🤩 But the chemistry is still burnin’ up & keeps us going until they get themselves on track! ❤️‍🔥
🤩 I love the nicknames, and my heart was bursting with love over the call signs.
🤩 The way Knox interacts with and loves on Halle’s kiddos (tween and teen).
🤩 It’s raw and real.
🤩 Old firsts and new firsts.
🤩 I’m a sucker for tossing a rock at the window.
🤩 Holy hotness in the shower scene! 🥵
🤩 The ring!

What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 Take me to the Sterlet book club!
💫 I’m starting to feel a little sl^tty for book boyfriends named Knox! 🤣

loved!

Such a beautiful story of second chances! They were always meant to be together! So glad they finally got their chance in the end! I really loved how Knox bad to work to get Violet and Tim’s approval.

The love Knox held for Hailey was so sweet and strong. He truly never stopped caring for her even though it had been 20 years!

Stella Hunter and Patrick Zeller did a great job bringing the characters to life! I really enjoyed this audiobook!

Great story and narration

I adore L.B. Dunbar’s stories. She never fails to deliver an entertaining story with characters who are engaging and so easy to relate to; probably because her characters are more mature and closer to my age.

From the first to the last chapter, I hooked on the story she wove about Knox (Brick) Sterling and divorced mum Halle (Haskins) Reynolds second chance at love story.

This is a beautifully written, witty, emotional story that ticked every box for me. The history that these two have was intense and I loved how determined Knox was to convince Halle to take a chance on them. There are equal amounts of passion, romance, and angst in this emotional story which had me tearing up and smiling, sometimes at the same time.

These two are meant to be together, if only Knox can convince Halle. Can they come to terms with the past and in doing so move forward as a family? One click and find out.

The narration by Stella Hunter and Patrick Zeller was spot on for these characters. They brought all the passion, romance, and angst to life with their performances. Their voices were easy to listen to and they brought the characters and the story to life for me that L.B. Dunbar wove.

Loved it!

This book was so good. It’s my first time listening to or reading a book where the 2 main characters are in their 40ish which was amazing for a change. I enjoyed the side characters like the kids, I felt connected to them in the story. I loved the flashbacks to when the two main characters were young. I definitely recommend this story, if you love second chances romance, young sweethearts, contemporary, small town, single mom, and so much more. This audiobook is a dual narration. Stella Hunter and Patrick Zeller did an incredible job. Patrick voice is to melt for and Stella voice is soft and delightful.

A well-narrated second chance for Brick and Sprint…

What I enjoyed most about this book, and look forward to other books in Dunbar’s Sterling Falls series, that they are about characters in their thirties and forties. Second chance romances 20 years on read much differently than second chance with just a few years between the then and now, and I often find them more satisfying. People change a lot in 20 years, and Dunbar does good job of showing what time can do. Halle and Knox are different people than they were at 18/19. And while the one thing that hasn’t changed is how they feel about each other, there is still a lot in between them that must to be resolved so the relationship can can work. Halle is a divorced single mother with all that role entails, Knox has past family trauma to deal with, and it’s really interesting to observe these two MCs who have matured within themselves grow together as a couple in a way that they couldn’t when they were younger. Halle is having a bit of an identity crisis. She’s unsure who she is now that she’s divorced and has solely been a wife and mother for a long time. The way she comes into her own made for an emotional journey. Her kids are number one with her (as should be with any parent, at least any good parent), and while the way she kind of hides behind them throughout the story to avoid making decisions that would be good for her was a bit frustrating, it was part of her growth and it worked for the plot. Knox’s journey was a bit more straightforward. He’d kind of done his growing already and just kind of had to reconcile what that meant for being with Halle. Throughout the story there’s this recurring use of “we didn’t end, we were on pause”; when he first says that in the beginning, I found it a little off-putting because it read like he’s not respecting the hurt she felt with the way he ended things the first time around. However, it became more and more applicable and believable to me as the story moved forward.

One element in the book that I did not like as much were the redundant folksy platitudes that crop up a lot of times. There’s a secondary character who becomes kind of the voice of wisdom for both Knox and Halle. I don’t mind this kind of character, but Knox already has a voice of wisdom in one of his brothers, too. It was fine but it just felt repetitive to have two characters serve the same purpose, especially since they were saying essentially the same thing and the delivery was so similar. However, I still liked the secondary characters on the whole and Dunbar does a good job of setting up the Sylver brothers and making you want to read their stories.

The audiobook was excellent. The casting of both Stella Hunter and Patrick Zeller was spot on. I appreciated that their performances sounded mature, like they’ve actually lived through the emotional pasts Dunbar laid out in the story. Both narrators added layers to their characters that made them more appealing. Hunter and Zeller were well-matched with each other and to their respective characters. The way they breathed life into Halle and Knox worked to mitigate character behaviors that would have frustrated me more had I only been reading with my eyes and not also listening.

I recommend this one for the impressive narration, and for those who enjoy a second chance romance between MCs who’ve been through a lot together and apart, and have finally found their “right time” to be together.

I received an ALC copy of the audiobook via Home Cooked Books and read via KU. All opinions are my own.