What He Never Knew

What He Doesn’t Know Duet, Book 3

By: Kandi Steiner

Narrated by: Jason Clarke, Mia Madison

Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's Summary

I never learn my lesson. And I always want what I can't have.

When Sarah Henderson walks into my life, I tell myself she's off limits. She's my student, 16 years younger than me, and my boss's niece. It doesn't matter that I see the same pain reflected in her eyes that I have in my own, or that the dead organ better known as my heart kicks to life when she's around. I've been here before, and I know how this ends.

It's been two years since I fell for the last woman I knew I couldn't have, the one with the ring on her finger that I chose to ignore. Two years of trying to overcome that heartache when Sarah slides into my life. Another woman I can't have. Another woman I can't stop myself from wanting.

I never learn my lesson, but with a constant reminder of how that last forbidden love burned, I think I've finally learned this one. This time, I won't chase what's off limits. This time, I'm staying away. And I'll keep telling myself that until I believe it.

©2019 Kandi Steiner (P)2019 Tantor

Trigger Alert!

It's a shame the synopsis doesn't mention that this book contains what may be a major trigger for some readers i.e. rape. While the assault is not described in graphic detail, it is still a major theme that is addressed throughout the book. Please be warned.

You also don't have to read the first two books in the series to read/listen to this one. It is, indeed, a standalone.

Otherwise the story itself is good not great (especially if you love a good May-December romance). The narration definitely saved it though.

A beautiful story of suffering

This is why I don't pay attention to many reviews. This book had four stars overall but I'm glad I hadn't noticed that when I purchased it. I had seen the first two books in the series around on Audible but could never bring myself to read them since it involved cheating and a love triangle with married people. However, if you want to skip the first two books and jump right to this one like I did, you'll be just fine. First, the taboo forbidden romance part is what caught my attention. That is my favorite genre, Next, there is a hefty age gap of 16 years, but, though the heroine is younger, she's experienced things that matures her way too soon in her young life. Third, this is an interracial romance that touched on some important topics in a very touching way. I absolutely recommend this book. I loved it. It was a tearjerker since both the H/h have experienced trauma that no one should ever go though. It was a beautiful, poignant story of two broken people finding strength in each other. It does touch on some trigger topics such as sexual assault and the aftermath so be forewarned. It was an incredible story, all told.

Emotional, beautiful, well written!

Jason Clarke is king of my #faveylist, so that was a main motivator for me to choose this audiobook - in addition to really loving the duet. The female narrator was new to me, but I enjoyed her performance. It is an age gap/mentor-student, but was handled in a way that I was never put off. The storytelling and the way Kandi leads you into falling in love along with them and feeling that anxiety with them made a big difference compared to books with similar tropes that I have personally found to be off putting rather than taking me on a journey. There is a potential trigger warning for trauma experienced by the female character. I wasn't expecting it and was caught off guard a bit, but Kandi handled it well IMHO. It is emotional, so have your seat belt ready!

I did enjoy it & would recommend the audiobook!

2 BROKEN SOULS.. 1 EMOTIONALLY RAW JOURNEY

I thought this was a brave well-written conclusion to the Duet because I was so hoping KS would give this tormented damaged man his own HEA after losing the love of his life to another man in the previous book. This isn’t a hurried romance.. both characters are emotionally broken and it takes a while for them to let their walls down to tentatively see what they could have. He’s her private Tutor, he’s 37 yrs old, he’s still tormented and still working with Charlie 2 yrs after she didn’t choose him.. and he’s 16 yrs older than his talented new student. Sarah had aspirations of being a solo concert pianist in Carnegie Hall but she’d been devastated, broken and forever changed by something awful that happened to her at University so she suddenly dropped out.. but deep down Sarah still had her dream. And very slowly the handsome sexy piano legend of a new Tutor, taught her how to love the piano again, how to use her pain and play with passion, how to let her guard down, how to love herself, how to move on.. and how to love.

This was a BWWM slow-burn and I thought Kandi Steiner did a wonderful job of capturing Sarah’s turmoil and allowing her time to mentally heal after what she’d been through. The whole relationship felt realistic and the well-paced romance grew into something beautiful and sweet. Yes there was a time or two where I wanted to slap some sense into Sarah when she believed in, and acted on, a lie.. but she redeemed herself in the end. Told in dual PoV’s, Mia Madison’s narration was 3 star ok.. and Jason (sigh.. I love you Jason) was his usual 5 star sexy, talented self and his performance enriched the listen.

Worth a credit? For me yes definitely. It’s emotionally raw, it’s tragically real, it’s heartbreaking and heartwarming, it’s full of vulnerability and strength, it’s filled with feels with only a couple of sex scenes and it’s a very happy ever after for the man who’d lost his way.. who’d thought he’d lost in love.. but his kindred spirit soul-mate would change everything. This could be listened to as a stand-alone but IMO you’d be missing a great Duet.. and, for anyone who hasn’t yet listened to them, I haven’t named the hero who walked into the sunset with Charlie and the hero who went home alone.