Beautiful Crazy

A Small Town Single Mom Romance (Blossom Beach, Book 1)

De: A. James

Narrado por: Connor Crais, Samantha Brentmoor

As a single mom with my hands and heart full, finding love is the last thing on my mind.

Then Everett Windward comes along. My new neighbor is charming, handsome, and sexy—and before I know it, I have a new friend…with benefits.

Fun and filthy benefits. There’s just one problem—He’s also my son’s teacher. That alone should have me pumping the brakes… except it doesn’t. I’m drawn to him and to the way he makes me feel. Everett has a filthy side that has reignited something inside of me that I haven’t felt in years.

Something I thought I lost. But there are rules…My son can’t know.

No sleeping over.

And absolutely no feelings involved. But as time goes on, it becomes impossible to ignore the butterflies in my stomach when I catch him looking at me, or when I watch him play ball with my son day after day. Before I know it, he’s so intertwined in our lives, and I can no longer deny the desire to break the very rules that I put into place to begin with. But it’s not just my feelings I have to consider.

I can see how quickly my son is becoming attached to him. See the way he yearns for that father figure in his life. We have experienced enough hurt and loss to last a lifetime. Can I really open up our hearts, knowing the risk I’m taking?

©2024 A. James (P)2024 A. James

Sweet and steamy - incredible narration!

Connor Crais and Samantha Brentmoor's rent was due because my god, they were absolutely incredible in this audiobook?? Their narration was truly a performance and it's one of the best audiobooks I've heard from each of them. They had me straight up blushing and squealing while listening to this lmaooo. I just about died every. single. time. Connor Crais said "mama" - and I really never thought I'd be into that.

The story was also so cute!! This is only my second book by this author, but she does such a great job at writing strong relationships. I loved getting to witness the progression of Everett and Gemma's relationship. Everett was the definition of "if he wanted to, he would" - that man was so gone for Gemma and would have moved mountains for her. It was really sweet how dedicated he was to her from the start.

Gemma was so relatable in the sense that I also have a hard time accepting help, but I was really glad to see her grow throughout the book and eventually be more open to accepting help. I admired everything that she did on her own, but it made me happy to see her get to share that load.

This book had no business being as hot as it was. When I tell you I had to physically fan myself - it was no joke. Ashley James knows how to write some incredible smut. I was taken aback in all of the best ways lol.

Anyway, highly, highly recommend this audiobook! It's duet style and it is perfect.

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!

This book was soo good. It was heartwarming, emotional, spicy, and soo much more. This is my first review and I’m glad I waited to find a book great to post my first review. LOVED IT LOVED IT LOVED IT!!

Sweet as candy!

This was a really heartwarming single mom story. He moves in next door, he ends up being her son’s teacher and they start a friends w/benefits but they end up catching feelings of course. And you cannot go wrong with Connor Crais & Samantha Brentmoor narrating. Super cute listen.

Perfection Narration!

Oh Mama. OH MAMA!

This is my first book by A. James and it was amazing! If you're into small town, single mom, teacher next door, he falls first, friends with benefits, flaming hot spice, public play and a super growly MMC, then you MUST listen to this book! As a bonus, there's no angst or 3rd act breakup!

Beautiful Crazy is a heartwarming story about Everett, the new guy in town, and Gemma, widowed and single mom to Sutton. Everett and Gemma run into each other a few times around town before they realize he's her new nextdoor neighbor. From there, they become fast and flirty friends and he enjoys helping her out, hanging out with Sutton, who is also one of his students, and just getting to know them.

I really enjoyed the the easiness of this story and how everything just fell into place for them. Sometimes it's nice to have a fun and relaxing and spicy story without the angst and this will always be one of my comfort listens because of that.

Samantha Brentmoor and Connor Crais narrated this in duet and it was perfection! Samantha had a southern twang for the role and it completely enhanced the emotional and playful character of Gemma. Connor nailed the nice guy/golden retriever vibe for Everett but where he really shines was his growliness during smexy times. Wow. Wow...

Thank you to TAA and the author for the ALC. All options are my own.

oh mama 🔥🔥

No words to describe how much I love the story and the narration is INCREDIBLE

4.5 stars

This was such a cute, fun and spicy romance between two neighbors. Gemma is a single mother that wasn't looking for love just yet. Enter Everett, who moves to Blossom Beach after inheriting his grandmother's house. He's Gemma's new neighbor, her son's new teacher and eventually becomes her new friend with benefits.

This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed her writing style. The pacing of the story was good. The story jumps right into the main plot. There was never a dull moment and the story didn't drag. When Everett and Gemma meet for the first time there is an instant attraction. I felt their undeniable chemistry. I loved Everett. He was a straight laced guy and took a leap of faith in this new chapter in his life. I loved Gemma. She had a great relationship with her son. After all the hurt and loss Gemma and her son endured, Gemma was resilient, stronger and brave. I also loved Everett's relationship with Sutton.

Most recently I listened to the audiobook and it's amazing! Performed in duet by Connor Crais and Samantha Brentmoor. You seriously can't go wrong with this pairing. Connor and Samantha embodied Everett and Gemma. Connor conveyed Everett with a hopeful tone. Connor captured Everett's pining for Gemma. I loved Samantha's Southern accent! It was exactly how I imagined Gemma to sound like. As their relationship started to grow and they started to act on their romantic feelings. I loved the effort they made to get to know eachother. I felt even more connected to them because of Connor and Samantha's narration. Their expressive tones elevated the story for me. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

Conor and Samantha was perfect!

This is so so good!
The way the characters just grabbed at your heart strings and then put you back together again!

🎡 Tropes 🎡

🌊 Small Town
🌊 Single Mom x Teacher
🌊 He Falls First
🌊 Neighbors to Lovers
🌊 Friends with Benefits
🌊 Public Play
🌊 Breeding Kink

Beautiful Crazy was crazy good

This single mom, Gemma, is living her best life juggling motherhood and healing from loss—until Everett Windward strolls in. He’s her new neighbor, super hot, and... plot twist... her son’s teacher.

The chemistry between these two is electric—you’ve got that small-town charm with all the spice, and I was here for it.
And let me tell you about the narrators, Connor Crais & Samantha Brentmoor.

First off, Connor reading anything is just... chef’s kiss. I could listen to him read a grocery list, but hearing him get into that dirty talk? WILD. Everett’s “mama” made me swoon. They really brought this story to life, and it was the perfect balance of laughs, heart, and heat.

If you love a sweet yet spicy small-town romance with lots of feels, this one’s for you.
4.5⭐️

Connor Crais calling her Mama haunts my dreams

OMG, this book is so far the best book I've read this year! If you didn't listen to the audio, you NEED TO! Trust me when I say the "hey mama's" are 1000x more devastating hearing it come out of Connor Crais' mouth. Also, this was my first dual narrative audio book, where He plays the male parts, and she plays the female parts, and I will never go back. The audio was top freaking shelf. Conner Crais and Samantha Brentmoor were pure magic together! I will be relistening to this book promptly. This is my first read from this author, now that we are acquainted, I need to go back and read all the others!

Being a Washington State Native, I love that a lot of her male character names are towns in my home state, it just made my heart happy! This was such a sweet story. Lots of heart and love from all angles.
Gemma and Everett were meant to be together. The character development with these two was so well conceived. The pacing was steady and never let my mind wander, keeping me fully engaged for the entire ride...

I LOVED Gemma's entire family and Everett's relationship with her son.

The spicy scenes were incredibly well written and when he calls her mama, let's just say I didn't even think that was a thing. But I assure you, it is a THING. Connor Crais calling her Mama haunts my dreams in the best freaking way.
"Uh-uh, eyes on me, mama. I want you to drench my face, you hear me?" See what I mean?

Tropes:
Single mom
Widow
Neighbors to lovers
Son's teacher
Small Town
Found Family
FWB
Breeding Kink
Public Play

Triggers:
Mentions of death of a spouse

4.5/5 stars!

I have been a fan of Ashley's writing for a while now, and when I heard we were getting a MF small town romance from her pseudonym, I was ecstatic! First book in the Blossom Beach series follows Gemma and her son Sutton and the new guy in town and conveniently enough new neighbor, Everett. Seattle born and bred Everett has decided to make a major life change and move clear across the country after inheriting his late grandmother Rosie's home in South Carolina. He finds himself in Blossom Beach and immediately stumbles upon a beautiful stranger, Gemma, on the pier as he is attempting to soak in one of his first beachside sunsets.

"My own version of serendipity, if you will."

It all snowballs from there. It turns out not only is Gemma Everett's neighbor, but he is also set to be the teacher to Gemma's son, Sutton. Immediate forced proximity at its finest. Everett has an instant connection to both Gemma and Sutton and I must say, his relationship with Sutton was probably one of my favorite things about this book, other than his absolutely swelteringly hot mouth. Gemma's hasn't dated anyone since she lost her husband 6 years ago and while she is still not sure she is ready for dating, she is convinced that she is ready for a physical relationship, AKA "frennies with bennies" situation with the hot neighbor next door. Cue the SPICE! Gemma and Everett are so dynamic in every sense. Once that tension breaks, there's definitely no going back. Ashley DELIVERS on the steamy scenes as she always does and I love how organically this couples relationship develops. They start to weave themselves deeper into each other's lives and into each other's hearts. I enjoyed this story very much and can we not only get a round of applause for the classroom scene but the lighthouse one as well? Please and thank you. 4.5/5 stars!

🔥Small Town
💕Single Mom x Teacher
🔥He Falls First
💕Neighbors to Lovers
🔥Friends with Benefits
💕Public Play
🔥Breeding Kink