The End Zone

By: L. J. Shen

Narrated by: Tessa Ellory, Joe Arden

Length: 2 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's Summary

Jolie Louis is a smart girl. She knows that her best friend, Sage Poirier, is a bad idea. He's a walking, talking cliché. The Adonis quarterback with the bulging biceps and harem of fangirls trailing behind him on campus like a stench you can't get rid of. Sadly, that's also the reason she can't stay away from him. Well, that and the fact that they're roommates.

Jolie is already straddling the line between friendship and more when Sage comes to her with an offer she cannot refuse: Be his fake girlfriend and live for free for the rest of the semester. She tells herself that she can handle it. He's just the boy she saved 10 years ago, right? Wrong. So very wrong. He is a man now, and she is his captive, heart, body, and soul....

©2018 L. J. Shen (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

✫✫ 3 Stars ✫✫

This is a 50/50 book for me. I like 50% of the story! I love a friends to lovers story, I really enjoyed most of the sexy scenes and I have to say I love that the "pretend" didn't last long. On the other hand, I rolled my eyes A LOT during this short 3 hours book. It mostly felt a little hokey to me but really I should not expect more from a short story since there isn't much background build up to help feel the story.

The narration was good. Both narrators did a great job but I did notice that she sounds like a teenager and he sounds like a 30-40 year old man, that was a little off putting but that was casting and no reflection on either of their narration skills.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

A Quick Read that hits the Spot!!

I’m not much into Novellas but I honestly enjoyed this one.
In true LJ Shen fashion, she packs the heat and the passion in this enjoyable friends to Lovers romance.
I listened to this on audio and I honestly felt this was one of Joe Arden’s best performances. His voice was husky and deep and absolutely on point.
This was the first time I listened to Narrator, Tessa Ellory and I highly enjoyed her sweet southern accent and soft spoken voice.
Great narration and a Great Listen!!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Don't let the length fool you!

Just because this is a short one, it does not take away from the punch that LJ Shen is able to put into it. This gem is a fully, well developed story and does not give you that rushed feeling. Meet childhood friends Jolie and Sage. As they grow up, Sage becomes the football star he is always meant to be and Jolie remains his rock through his life. When his friend decides he would like to date Jolie, all things change, and we get the taste of the hotholes that LJ Shen is famous for. This short is full of sexual chemistry, a little angst and characters that you can't help but fall for. She even gives us a glimpse into the future with an unbelievable epilogue. Cannot wait to see where she goes with this!

I love that Shen brought this to audio with Joe Arden and Tessa Ellory. Joe is a wonderful narrator and he brought Sage's attitude and vulnerabilities to life with his voice. This is my first encounter with Tessa Ellory and she has that perfect new adult voice for Jolie, and she hyped up the angst in the right places making you feel each insecurity Jolie had. Loved this!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

OK novella

This was OK for a novella. I was hoping for something longer and more involved like Tyed, which I love. The narration was really good. Joe Arden is one of my favorite narrators.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

sort of a disappoint...

I love Joe Arden but that was it. Not a great story or narration to me other than Joe. But this is an earlier book. Tessa did nothing for me. She's no Andi A.

Incredibly sweet and entertaining

Oh em gee! I loved bed this book! It was just about the perfect sports romance! Football and best friends! The characters were so well developed and the story just sucks you in.
The narrators did such a good job! Especially Tessa with that slight southern accent!! Loved everything about it! Will definitely listen to it again!

The End Zone

The End Zone by L.J. Shen
Narrated by Tessa Elliott and Joe Arden
Five Stars
Wow, another great book by Ms. Shen! I love the great romance between Jolie and Sage. This was a perfect short story that really hit the spot. The narration was spot on and hot, hot, hot. I’m looking forward to read/listening to more books by Ms. Shen.

WOW is it hot

Sage and Jolie will duck you in with their story. once you start you won't be able to stop and you won't want to either. Set in the South and with all the charm to go with it. A must on your list.

Sugar Coated Confection

LJ Shen's The End Zone is nothing like her Sinners of Saint series, but it's just as delectable. Sage and Jolie have been best friends since they were ten and are now roommates as they finish their senior year of college. He's the star quarterback on the football team and primed for greatness - taking full advantage of the lifestyle afforded to him as an attractive, affluent athlete (do I sense a trend here?). All it takes is a scare, a naked collision, and some jealousy to prompt Sage into proposing they embark on a fake relationship, which swiftly leads to them fully realizing that there may be more than strictly platonic feelings between them. This was practically a sugar coated confection in comparison to LJ Shen's other tomes, and I'm all here for it! 5 out of 5 wine glasses.

These 2 Narrators bring this story to LIFE!

Click now - dive in - fantastic audio!

I adore L.J. Shen! I devour everything she writes and have collected almost all of the audios to go with. I first read The End Zone when it was part of a sports anthology. Re-read it right before it came out on it's own. Now listening to the audio - mind blown!

Tessa Ellory is the perfect JoJo. Her sweet voice and impeccable southern accent brought this character to life. Joe Arden and his deep, kinda gravely, sexy voice was magic as Sage. These two voice actors really did this story justice.

These fascinating characters became friends as kids and here we are 10 years later as college roommates. Still best friends but now with an underlying lust and sizzling sexual tension. Tessa the sweet best friend to Sage the man whore jock extraordinaire. A reality check has Sage changing his ways and now Tessa is in his line of sight. He'll do anything to keep her by his side.

This story is beautifully written, perfectly paced with all the back story and development of a full length novel. All fun size in this great novella and even better audio. This author really has a knack for not only creating these incredible stories and characters - but also for choosing the absolute perfect voice actors to bring her books to life in the most entertaining and fantastic way!