The X Ingredient

By: Roslyn Sinclair

Narrated by: Anastasia Watley

Length: 11 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's Summary

Laurie Holcombe is out of a job, out of luck, and out of time. When a prestigious law firm hires her as an assistant to one of its senior partners, it feels like she might finally get back on her feet. All she has to do is put up with the whims of her infuriatingly icy boss, Diana. How hard could that be?

Diana Parker is Atlanta's top lawyer and isn't afraid to let everyone know it. She's driven, ruthless, demanding, and stuck in a failing marriage. Too bad she can't run her personal life as well as she runs her ordered office.

When a young assistant shows up with bright blue eyes, a cute Southern accent, and a streak of pink hair, Diana's sure she's all wrong for the job. And yet something seems to be pulling her and Laurie Holcombe together, drawing them into a secret, thrilling dance that's far too dangerous for a boss and employee.

Can they make rules for this powerful attraction, a way to keep each other at arm's length? But how do you resist the irresistible?

Contains mature themes.

©2019 Roslyn Sinclair (P)2020 Tantor

I’m not sweating, you are.

Jesus. I’m not religious.
This has to be the hottest—nay, the HOTTEST f/f ice queen/older woman/I didn’t know I was gay romance novel yet.
It took a few chapters for me to warm up to the Southern accent, but I really couldn’t hear accents for long, due to the pulse in my face/heart palpitations/stirring in various body parts, etc.
It’s high praise to the author and orator when it’s 3:30am and I have no intention of turning the book off or going to bed...

Soooo ridiculously good!

I LOVED the physical book and remembered thinking if they could find the right narrator to do the audiobook, god help us. And sure enough - they did. I'll be honest - in the beginning I wondered what it would be like if Abby Craden narrated it (since I absolutely LOVE her work!) but was very happy discovering Anastasia Watley - who I'd never heard before. She uses two completely distinct voices - personal assistant Laurie's being a delicious Georgia/southern accent and then a reserved, controlled voice for Diana - the high powered ice queen attorney. When things heat up between the two of them - my, my, my, my, myyyyy..... Ridiculous hot. Ridiculous. When Diana loses control in her desire for Laurie... my god. I literally shivered at one point. If that isn't proof of skillful narration, I don't know what is. Turbulence is probably still the hottest, most delicious audiobook I've ever listened to, but this is a VERY close second. It is NOT for people who don't enjoy sex in their lesfic. But if you do, it's like you died and went to heaven. Lord. Have. Mercy. I'll definitely be listening to this one again.

10 STARS!!!!! WOAAAA!!!

THIS BOOK WAS AWESOME. IF YOU LIKE LISTENING TO LESBIAN ROMANCE....THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST!! I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THE ROSLYN SINCLAIR COMES OUT WITH ANOTHER ONE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. THE NARRATOR WAS SOOOOOOO GOOD. SHE HAS A SEXY VOICE. LOVED IT!!

solid

As far as romance novels go, this was one of the better ones I've read. Cool to have the lesbian theme...would absolutely welcome more of this. Would like to see lesbian/queer novels that don't have the coming out storyline - mostly because I don't want to relive my own coming out experience over and over, but also because that is only one facet of the queer experience, but seems to be a point of focus with almost all of the queer themed books I've read. This one also wasn't particularly cheesy (and this genre is often unreadably cheesy). Also just really hot all around. Ultimately even with the coming out criticism it's nice to read a well-written lesbian romance novel. Did we even have those 20-30 years ago?? More, please.

Really unfortunate choice of voice for Laurie

It appears I’m in the minority here but this was a really unsettling listen for me. Not because I have any issues at all with lesbian erotica, but because I just could not get past the narrator’s voice for Laurie. I don’t mind the southern accent in the least - it’s the AGE of the voice that I never acclimated to. Laurie is supposed to be a 25 year older member of gen Z, yet she talks like a matured, middle aged, southern school guidance counselor; the kind of voice that’s spent 55+ years being hawked up like phlegm from the gullet. Diana’s voice was much younger sounding and she’s supposed to be 18 years older! I honestly could not visualize a hot young thing like Laurie when listening, so I just kept getting visions of Margo Martindale pawing at poor, lovely Diana in some kind of really uncomfortable Golden Girls sexual cosplay. I’m going to need to listen to something else to get that image out of my head. I also just couldn’t get into the romance. These two go from kinky power games to being in love in the blink of an eye. Maybe I would have bought into the love story more if I could visualize Laurie as she’s written, but again, I just couldn’t get past the voice. Really disappointing. I so wanted to like this one.

HOTT!!

This book was SO steamy!! I listen to my books in the car and this one had me wanting to drive well under the speed limit going home! Yes the other reviews are true, Laurie's voice is cringy... but you'll be willing to listen past it. I PROMISE you. I wish there were 100 more books like this one.

Yes!!

Great listen during corona. I couldn’t concentrate on my work it was so intriguing. Wow!

Very good book

This book was so beautiful. I listened while at work and it kept me on edge. My knees where wobbly and throbbed between my legs. It took me 2 days to finish because I was so eager to do so. I enjoyed both the writer and the narrator, awesome work.

The kind of books I love

The Cinderella story, well written story and characters are well developed. If Roslyn Sinclair wrote more books and they are narrated like this one I would like to listen to them all. A great listening.

😍😳😍

This book was wonderful! I loved everything about it. It was very very sexy - if your not into that skip this one. I felt it was very well written. I want more from this author please!
The narrator did a great job too. Want a sexy pick me up? Get this book now!!

Amazing

Well I wasn’t expecting that after some of the reviews were less than favourable. Honest, witty and frantically heated. Delivering perfect sexual tension until the tightly wound older character finally looses it in a confined space....what a scene. Narration was top notch seriously going to seek out more books read by Anastasia Watley. Usually I slightly fall for one of the characters, this time I couldn’t choose; both deliciously messed up and decent.
I’ll say it again Amazing

A study in desire

I genuinely didn’t want this book to end. I enjoyed it from the first to last word. It’s not for the prudish or faint-hearted, but if you like strong characters, age gap romance, ice queens and a witty narrative you will love The X Ingredient! Oh and there’s quite a bit of hot sex!

The story is told from the point of view of both main characters, Laurie and Diana and is narrated brilliantly by Anastasia Watley. I will definitely be checking out her other work and that of Roslyn Sinclair.

Winning writer/narrator combination

Well this book is naughty and joyful yes but oh my... Sensational narration. More please :)

Too much office sex

This is the first time I have listened to this author and I was impressed. I really enjoyed the story and it was well written and the narration was great, she did a good job at getting into character and the voices were different for the individual characters. I will be keeping an eye out for this author and narrator in the future.

The only thing I would say is and this is for me personally, the story has too much sex in it. I felt like instead of having all them sex scenes, you could have had more of Laurie and Diana getting to know each other and finding out more about each other, rather than just in a sexual way and more of a personal and emotional way. I feel by doing this it would of made them have more of a connection and the sex scenes would have been less, which would have made the sex scenes that more special and confirmed their attraction while getting to know each other.

The story had both characters point of view, so one chapter it would be Laurie's point of view then the next chapter it would be Diana's. I always enjoy when a story does this.

X ingredients

I love this story sooooooo much wish there was a second part to it or there was a movie on it

Great listen

Loved it. One of my favourites and will definitely listen to this again....decent story and characters.

Wow! Loved it

I can’t wait for more from Roslyn Sinclair, really great book. Loved the narration too.

Plot to obvious

Couldn't listen to this book , the person narrating the stories voice grated on my nerve's.Also found the plot ,same old same old .It wasn't for me this book.

Wow, just wow

Excellent narration & the story was superb. I'm glad that i listened to this book, rather than read it. Audible definitely gives it that extra wow factor. This was the 1st time listening/reading a Roslyn Sinclair novel. I will most certainly reading more of her work.