Wild Crush

Wilder Valley

By: Kacey Shea

Narrated by: Erin Mallon, Robert Hatchet

I've loved Maeve Wilder my whole life.

She's never seen me as more than a friend but that's my fault. By the time I was brave enough to confess my feelings, I was too late.

She met the man she would marry and it wasn't me. I missed my chance.

Now we're in our thirties, still the best of friends, and I've made peace with the fact my unrequited love will never amount to more than a wild crush. Mostly.

But when her husband walks out—leaving her to raise their three children alone, I'm the one who is there to pick up the pieces.

Each night I fall asleep on her sofa, longing for her to see me as more than a friend. When she does, it changes everything.

My heart belongs to hers, it always has. But when reality comes crashing down, will the life we've built over the last few months be enough for her to choose a forever with me?

Wild Crush is a small town, single mom, unrequited love, best friends to lovers, steamy romance in the Wilder Valley series by USA Today Bestselling Author Kacey Shea. This book can be enjoyed as a standalone or start with Wild Hearts.

©2024 Kacey Shea (P)2024 Kacey Shea

Best friends to lovers!

I have been looking to Maeve getting a book since we could tell things were rocky in previous books. And when Maeve finds herself separating from her husband, life starts to brighten for her best friend Rainer who has been in love with her for years.

💛Small town romance
💛Best friends to lovers
💛It’s always been you
💛Cinnamon roll MMC
💛Surprise pregnancy

When Maeve’s husband leaves, Rainer immediately steps in to be THE person for her. He helps keep her together when her life seems to be falling apart.

And during that time, things seemingly switch from best friends to lovers real quick for them. You would have thought that they were together for years based on their chemistry and the domesticity between them.

But all can’t be that easy for them; can it?

Rainer is literal perfection. Everyone deserves a Rainer in their life and I will die on that hill for him. He is one of my favorites from this series.

Now Maeve - I resonated and emphasized with her difficult situation. However, some of her decisions made me want to shake her and ask her what she is thinking?! I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’m going to leave that vague.

Erin Mallon and Robert Hatchet were fantastic in this! Rob always has this way about him and the dirty talking was spicy with his voice! Erin Mallon was perfect as Maeve, especially in her most vulnerable times. The narration pairing for this one couldn’t have been better matched!

Cannot wait to read Jackson’s falling in love next!

An emotionally intense journey filled with feels

Rainer and Maeve really take you on an emotionally intense journey that is jam-packed with feels. My heart ached viciously as I enjoyed this romance. Rainer was truly an incredible book boyfriend. He was so sweet, kind and generous. He totally stole my heart and made me swoon. As for Maeve, I thought she was a very genuine, relatable character but I must admit that I found her frustrating. I thought that the narration on this book was wonderful. Both performances were well done, and I felt the voices fit the characters well.

A feast of bountiful and profound .....

Shea delves deep into the well of emotion, that we call a heart and exposes the soul. From the pain of loss to the beauty of love, Wild Crush mixes the fragility and empowerment of a feeling that is often times taken for granted. A feast of bountiful and profound, that sticks to the soul.

Friends to lovers

We have been teased with Maeve and Rainer since book one of this series and I couldn't wait for this author to give them their story. Rainer has had a crush on Maeve for years but he missed his chance way back to express his feelings and she married another man. He isn't a good man and Rainer knows that so he is there for her as a best friend. When things change and he steps in to help her and her kids will they finally get their happily ever after or will he lose her again? No spoilers!

I love this series and this book was so good. There are lots of emotions but this author always delivers those. I love this small town and the people that live there. I felt as though I was on this journey with them. This is book four of the series but each book stands alone.

Erin Mallon and Robert Hatchet narrate this book and they both deliver. They bring the feels. I loved it and recommend this book.

Good Story

Ok I think I was expecting more from this for some reason. I mean I loved the story but felt it just seemed to quit at the ending. I was expecting more strife from the ex husband situation or even some resolution from Pop. Some of the situation with Alex was glossed over in the Epilogue..but I just find it odd he is being so gracious to Maeve and Rainier. I know the story is about the new relationship between the two MC and that has tragic and lovely elements.

Overall this is just an okay listen for me. I liked the characters but felt something was missing especially near the end.

I listened to this on audio. Erin Mallon and Robert Hatchet are the narrators. They both are pleasant to listen to did an excellent job portraying their characters. Perfect choices!