Reckless Chance

Love over Murder, Book 3

De: J.D. Carothers

Narrado por: Kit Swann, Robert Hatchet

Murder is in the cards at one Vegas casino, but is love too?

All I wanted was one more hot night with the woman of my dreams. Instead, all I got was both of us drunk and accidently married at my resort.

Maybe this isn’t such a bad deal, since we must stay together for my inheritance, but how do I explain that to the new Mrs. Cartwright? If we could stop flirting, kissing, and taking this too far one too many times…

Don’t get me wrong, Lowri is gorgeous, smart, and spunky, but I don’t want a wife forever. Marriage isn’t for me. I’ve seen the pain it can cause, no matter what sparks fly between us. If I drag my feet long enough hopefully she can see the benefits for holding off on the annulment.

And as if I don’t have enough on my plate, I have a murder on the casino floor hitting the news and an employee threatening my livelihood. With shows falling apart, a royal party to plan, and learning I’m too close to the mafia…in an instant, I could lose everything my family built.

Will love be my lucky lady and deal me a better hand?

Reckless Chance is the third book in the Love Over Murders series. Each book is a standalone story featuring one couple’s journey to their guaranteed H.E.A. and no cliffhanger. The series is especially for lovers of swoony moments intertwined with a murder mystery.

©2024 Dreamlific Publishing (P)2024 Dreamlific Publishing

Great narration

Accidental marriage
Murder mystery

Dual narration - Kit Swann & Robert Hatchet
Love these two narrators so much!

I really enjoyed this book.

Sean is a casino owner in Vegas and the best friend to a prince.
When Prince Evan calls to plan a party for his girlfriend Cassie, he also enlisted the help of Cassie’s best friend Lowri to help.

Sean and Lowri had a hot weekend a few months ago but said that was it just once. Until they are forced back into each others orbit they quickly realize they still have attraction. A drunken night in Vegas and a misunderstanding they end up married.

Sean finds out there is a marriage class to his inheritance and needs Lowri to stay with him longer. He gets her to stay by hiring her to be his lawyer.

This is a romance story with a murder mystery twist.

Gripping and passionate

This is Sean and Lowri’s second chance at live story and one that ticked all the boxes for me.

From the first chapter to the last I was drawn into their story. Add in some familiar faces and it was a win/win for me.
This book was an entertaining listen with a good balance of suspense and romance. In fact I was on the edge of my seat whilst listening.

I liked the characters both separately and especially as a couple and the story was engaging.

The narration by Kit Swan and Robert Hatchett brought the characters to life for me. Their voices were easy to listen too and they brought all the passion, drama, romance and suspense to their performances.

This series is NOT to be missed!!

Story - ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Spice - 🌶🌶
Narration - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reckless Chance is book #3 in the Love Over Murder series. Sean is the owner of The Athena, a hotel/casino in Vegas. Lowrie is back in town to plan a party for her bestie, Cassie (from book #1). These two decide to forget their rule of "no seconds" after hooking up months ago, spend a night drinking, and wake up married. Neither want a relationship of ANY kind because of their parents, but for completely different reasons. Sabotage, secrets, and second thoughts on love keep things hopping for this couple. The author has delivered a fantastic series of romantic suspense that keeps your attention from start to finish. Loved this!

The narration is fantastic. I have mad love for Robert Hatchet and his versatility. Kit Swann isn't a new narrator to me, but I don't hear her near enough for my liking. These two were so dang good! 5/5 stars!!!

“To us— whatever that means and for however long it lasts.”

I'm grateful to Home Cooked Books for the ALC for this story. I loved this series so much, but I really think this was my favorite of the three books.

I absolutely loved the chemistry between Sean and Lowri and how fun their relationship was. To the point that they got married by literal accident because they thought they were just posing for some photos, and it was all fake. The moment they realized it was all real was absolutely hilarious. I also loved how easily Lowri could switch from fun, outgoing, party girl, to serious professional when the moment called for it, like when they witnessed the accident during one of the shows at Sean's hotel, and whenever she was working on trying to solve the mystery.

I completely adored how Sean knew that an acceptable grand gesture for Lowri would not be flashy things, but rather a cozy night in would do wonders for winning her over again. He also understood when to give her time to process everything without allowing her to push him away too much. Lowri in turn, is a badaṣs boss bıtch who knows her worth and did not let Sean get away with his actions without some groveling.

The narration was done in dual style, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Kit Swann and Robert Hatchet brought all the happiness, the drunkeness, the pain, the spice, and everything in between to the table.

Quote: “When I arrived here, I wondered if there would be magical moments, mysterious men, or more mayhem. I never imagined there would be all three...”

Never mix business and pleasure

Another wonderfully written who done it book in this series. The narrators did a fantastic job. They really put a lot of emotion into bringing these characters to life. This is Lowri and Sean's story and what a nail biter it was. It was very fast paced with lots of steam, angst, suspense and twists to throw you off what actually happened. Sean and Lowri are the best friends of Evan and Cassandra from the first book, so we get to catch up with them as well. Both of them are firmly no marriage but in a twist of fate that's what happens and they find out "What happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas". Lowri has a "don't mix business and pleasure rule" that she tries so hard to follow but Sean just slyly breaks down her walls. These two have amazing chemistry and an undeniable connection which is clear in every interaction. I truly can't say enough good things about this book and series. I love how each book is one couples journey to an HEA all while trying to solve whatever is going on around them. I highly recommend this 5 star book.

I was sent an advanced copy audiobook from HCB and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

An appealing romantic suspense…

Book 3 in Carothers’s Love over Murder series has Sean Cartwright and Lowri Upton (BFFs to Evan and Cassie from book 1) return to take on the MC roles. While RC is the conclusion to this trilogy of stories, Carothers seems to have dropped some breadcrumbs to follow some of the secondary characters into a spin-off. Throughout the series, she’s shown a knack for layering the secondaries in such a way that makes this a successful practice and that trend continues here. On top of that, the book works well on its own terms, and made for an enjoyable romantic suspense outing. When the setup and payoff of the suspense plot came together, I found it to be a satisfying conclusion.

Sean and Lowri made a great team, both romantically as well as in hoe they come together to handle the mystery plot as a team. These two felt like a more believable “sleuthing” duo than prior couples, maybe because there wasn’t a royal subplot happening concurrently. Instead there are more grounded tropes to anchor the characters. First there is some “we’ve already been together and can’t forget each” physical attraction vying with their mutual, yet differently motivated, commitment-averse attitudes. Then things shift, and I enjoyed the variation on waking up married, because it wasn’t the typical approach. Finally, the morph into a marriage of convenience (albeit one-sided) made for some interesting tension; and the fact that the particulars of that didn’t snowball out into an overly typical third act misunderstanding was a pleasant surprise. It seems like a lot trope-wise, but I thought Carothers’s struck a consistent balance throughout. Plus these MCs are just so darn likable, and I had a good time following their love story. They had a nice balance between heat and companionship that made their connection feel believable.

The audiobook was very good. Kit Swann’s and Robert Hatchet’s performances were fine matches for their characters and for each other. Swann has a smoky voice that fit Lowri across the varied scenarios and emotions throughout the book; I found her delivery compelling. And Hatchet was a great Sean; he was successfully able to hit the blend of confidence, humor, and sexiness of Carothers’s MMC. Working together and with Carothers’s words, both narrators delivered an exceptional listening experience.

With appealing MCs, strong narrator performances, and a solid romantic suspense plot, book 3 in Carothers’s Love over Murder series is well worth a listen.

I’m grateful to have received an ALC copy of the audiobook via Home Cooked Books. I also read the book via KU. All opinions expressed are my own.

Good blend of romance and mystery

I admit that I gravitate toward romance. That said, Carothers tells a compelling story that is satisfying to both romance and mystery aficionados. Her characters have depth, and the story is interesting.

Note that this stands on its own. Although this is the third in the series, it doesn't require the previous stories to be enjoyable.

Accidental marriage, murdery mayhem, and major chemistry!

Reckless Chance is the third installment in JD Carothers’ Love Over Murder series, and it delivered the perfect blend of romance, chaos, and suspense. This time we follow Sean, the owner of a luxury hotel, and Lowri, a successful lawyer. After a past fling that never quite fizzled out, they’re thrown back together to help plan a celebration for mutual friends… and things spiral fast.

One wild night out, some drinks, and, oops, they wake up married. Due to legal complications (that I won’t spoil), they’re forced to stay married for three months. And during that time? Let’s just say the drama doesn’t stop at their relationship. The hotel becomes a magnet for mysterious and unfortunate incidents, keeping the stakes high and the tension thick.

Their chemistry is undeniable, and watching their relationship evolve amidst all the chaos was such a satisfying ride. There’s just enough angst to keep it interesting, balanced perfectly with emotional depth and heat.

Now let’s talk about the audiobook Robert Hatchet and Kit Swann were phenomenal. This was my first time hearing either of them, and they absolutely nailed their performances. They brought so much personality and emotion to Sean and Lowri that I couldn’t imagine the characters without their voices. Their duet narration elevated the story and made it even more immersive.

If you’re into forced proximity, accidental marriage, and romance tangled with a thread of suspense, Reckless Chance is a fantastic listen!

Amazing narration - fantastic story

Kit Swan and Robert Hatchett delivered a fantastic performance. Their voices are strong, full of emotion and personality. They gave each of the characters perfect voice. Love how narrators create a whole new experience to enjoying an authors words. I love this series and each book is amazing. They are filled with amazing characters, great suspense, fantastic passion and the perfect amount of suspense. There are also some secrets that could have an impact on Lowri and Sean’s HEA. This book has many of my favorite tropes..suspense, romance, accidental marriage and it takes place in Vegas! Lowry and Sean are thrown together to host a party and after one night of too much drinking they wake up to an unexpected surprise. It was fun to watch them manage their new normal, try together feelings while also tying to solve a murder. Loved the cameos from characters in the other books in the series. Highly recommend reading the series. Thank you Home Cooked Books for the complimentary copy.

Wonderfully Good Read

J.D. Carothers' "Reckless Chance" delivers a heady mix of romantic comedy, suspense, and a dash of mafia intrigue, all wrapped up in an entertaining audiobook experience. The premise is classic: a drunken, accidental marriage sets the stage for a forced proximity romance, fueled by sizzling chemistry and reluctant attraction.

The narrative centers on a resort owner who finds himself unexpectedly wed to Lowri, the woman of his dreams, while facing the threat of losing his inheritance if they part ways too quickly. Carothers effectively balances the comedic elements of their awkward situation with genuine emotional depth. The protagonist's internal conflict—his desire for Lowri versus his aversion to marriage due to past trauma—creates compelling tension.

The audiobook's pacing is brisk, propelling the listener through a series of escalating events. The added layers of a murder mystery on the casino floor and mafia involvement introduce a suspenseful edge, preventing the story from becoming solely a romance. The narration captures the playful banter and emotional vulnerability of the characters, enhancing the overall listening experience.

While the "accidental marriage" trope is familiar, Carothers injects fresh energy into it with engaging dialogue and well-developed characters. Lowri is portrayed as a strong, independent woman, and the protagonist's gradual shift from reluctant partner to devoted husband feels earned. The supporting cast adds depth to the story, and the backdrop of the bustling resort provides a vibrant setting.

Ultimately, "Reckless Chance" offers a satisfying blend of romance, humor, and suspense, making it a delightful listen for those seeking a lighthearted yet engaging story.

Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.