I found myself smiling all the way through

This is a sweet romance. I did find myself grinning all the way through as the story unfolded and the characters grew into themselves. A fantastic performance from both narrators.
#PinkFlamingoProductions
#FlockReview
#AudiobookObsessionReviewer

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I just love this writer

Emily McIntire's writing is that great. The stories she composes are just a little different and more real than others, and this is no exception. This enemies-to-lovers/best-friend's-brother has the feels and tingles my entire emotional range in all the right places. Sarah Puckett and Theo Sinclair did an amazing job with the narration, the characters came to life and they somehow made me feel all the emotions.
Nothing more to say except: listen to this! You will not regret it.

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Beneath The Stands

I am totally in love with this series. Emily McIntire hits on delicate subjects in such a way that....well I don't even have words to describe it.
This story semi-hit close to home and made me want to cry but in the end, the way Becca gets out of her situation made me so happy.
I loved their story and Emily McIntire has a new fan for life.

#vipflock #vipflockreviewer

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Angsty

I'm a bit torn with this story- well written, so angsty and really complex, this story follows Eli and Becca. I did read the first book in the series but it was a while ago so I forgot much about it and had no trouble catching up so I consider this an interconnected standalone.

The good- this is really emotional and angsty. If that's what you're into, be expecting to scream and cry. There is an HEA (although it's a tough road to get there) but the first half is really fun with the banter. I really liked the back and forth and enjoyed the building of the initial relationship. There is a lot of steam.

Though this was sold a best friend's brother romance, the best friend aspect was minimal, in my opinion, since Eli had such a poor relationship with his sister.

The bad- This story does include aspects that I don't like. There is a time jump and the second half of the book has Eli about to marry someone else which, of course, leads to the questionable behavior. And so, like in the first book, the main couple was basically with other people until far into the book, which means the resolution felt a little rushed. I also didn't really like Eli's stance about family and how he pretty much never went back to his hometown to help his sister but I appreciated how Eli started to pick up the slack towards the end, when he realized just how bad things were.

I lived through this story going between the ebook and the audiobook and the audiobook, featuring Sarah Puckett and Theo Sinclair was fantastic. Done duet style, both narrators had wonderful voices, emotional characterization and were so well suited for their roles. I really loved living through the story by listening to the audiobook.

🎧AudiobookObsessionReviewer, PinkFlamingo, TheFlock

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Good Listen

What do you do with two people who can not face what they want? You have drama and a best friend that everyone loves who will tell it to you straight, even if you don't listen. Becca and Elliott knew they were off limits to each other, but their bodies didn't listen. But when feelings got involved they were both in denial until it was over and still couldn't face the truth. This story is full of heat and drama that you won't want to put down.
🎧 Audiobook Obsession

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This is fantastic!

I love Emily McIntire’s writing… and I love Sarah Puckett and Theo Sinclair as these characters!’n. Emily McIntire was new to me with Beneath the Stars.. and I am was hooked. This book is as good as the first and the character SO ring true.

Eli is the small town turned NBA basketball star who gets injured and ends up not being able to go back to the sport he loves. He ends up as the assistant coach at FCU, where he finds Rebecca. Rebecca is from his home town, the preachers wayward daughter. She has been under her parents control her whole life and yearns y try I break away. Because of things she’s seen and heard in her home her whole life, she doesn’t believe in love…. But believes it’s all a trap. She ends up working with Eli, who is her best friends brother that she has been angry with because she thinks he left his sister to take care of their father after their mom died. The more she works with him, the more she comes to realize that she doesn’t know the whole story…. And she and Eli begin a relationship…..

When Eli tells her he loves her… she runs. When she sees him five years later… the love she feels for him overwhelms her.. but she’s too late.. he’s engaged to someone else.

There’s SO much more to this story… and it’s SO good! I recommend it highly!!!

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hot and heavy enemies-to-forbidden lovers

I got this sizzling audiobook at my request via a promo from the fabulously lovely Flock, and Pink Flamingo Productions, so this my voluntary review.

I absolutely LOVE book 1 in the Sugarlake series, it was a gushy childhood besties to lovers, and all the warmy moosh. This, was a firey Hate You-Want You-Love rollercoaster. Don't worry if you haven't read book 1, this can also be read standalone but understanding book 1, makes this so much more intense because you really understand the insecurity Becca has about boinking her besties older brother.

"She’s fire. Absolutely insane. But I love the way she burns..."

Our girl Becca has a problem, her bestie Alina has a jerkface older brother called Eli who loves to rile her up, and get in her face, and now they are both at the same college in Florida. Unable to play pro due to injury, he becomes the new Basketball coach at Becca’s university.

"To assume we know our fate is futile, and when one path is stunted, another one is paved..."

Loved narration from Sarah Puckett who has thankfully been saved from Mafia, Cartels and forced marriages to deliver this awesome story. Theo Sinclair gives a fantastic performance as Eli, and I will definitely be checking out more of his work.

Onto book 3 in Emily's series now!

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Excellent

This is book 2 of The Sugar Lake series it’s a stand alone but as there are characters in it from book 1 it might be good to listen to that first. Becca is looking for a job and is forwarded to the mens basketball coach who gives her a chance. On her way out she bumps into someone and when she looks up she’s realises it her bff’s older brother who she thinks is an ahole. The coach tells her she can start her training with Eli , the chemistry between them is electric but they both deny any feelings and carry on bickering with each other. Loved the characters in this book and the story was great full of twists and turns heartache and happiness.
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Becca and Eli!

Becca has been attending college in Florida to put some distance between her and her parents due to their toxic relationship. When her plans don’t agree with theirs and her last year is in jeopardy, she is able to get a job with the basketball team to pay her rent. The last person she expected to be working with was her best friend’s brother who she believes wasn’t there for his family when they needed him the most.

A tragic loss has fractured Eli’s family, so he chooses to stay away to avoid the pain of returning. When his career as a professional basketball player ended early due to an injury he decided that an assistant coaching job with the Florida University team would still allow him to be part of the game he loved. He certainly never expected to see his sister’s best friend there or that he would be attracted to her especially when a relationship between them is off-limits for so many reasons.

Becca and Eli take us on emotional journey as both are dealing with family drama that is impacting their present. There is no denying the love that they have for each other, but it is only with maturity, understanding and healing that that they can finally have the future they both deserve. The performance of the narrators made the characters relatable and had you invested in the story as you experience the same emotions and angst that they were feeling. 🎧 AudiobookObsession

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Angsty and All the Feels......

Beneath the Stands is book two in the Sugarlake series and is considered an interconnected standalone. Becca is at college and supposed to return home to Sugarlake after college to work with her extremely religious parents at the church....which is the last thing she wants to do. Eli was a basketball star who got hurt and is now a coach at Becca's college. When she needs extra money and the only job she can find happens to be helping with boys basketball team, he also becomes her boss. He also just so happens to be from Sugarlake and is Becca's best friend's brother.

This book made me feel ALL THE FEELS. It was emotional and angsty and sad but ends with a HEA. I overall really liked Becca and Eli as the main characters. Becca was fiesty and I like how she stood up to her parents. I was a bit frustrated by the major conflict of the story as in general I am not a huge fan of these types of story lines, but the writing was well done, and again there was a HEA. I loved Eli's alpha possessive, dirty talking side. The chemistry between he and Becca was seriously smoking.

I am so excited that I found this author and this series and cannot wait to dive into the next book. The audiobook for this book was absolutely wonderful and I would highly recommend it. Sarah Puckett and Theo Sinclair did a fantastic job with the narration of this story and bringing these characters to life. Their narraton truly brought about all the emotion of this story. Sarah Puckett is a definite go-to favorite narrator of mine and I thoroughly enjoy the few times I have heard Theo Sinclair as well. #PinkFlamingoProductions #TheFlock

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