Burden to Bear

Road Trip Romance, Book 17

By: A.K. Evans

Narrated by: CJ Mission, Ava Erickson

Mia Shepherd thought everything was finally falling into place—great job, handsome boyfriend, and a new home in Connecticut. Sadly, just weeks after making her move, Mia’s life is turned upside down.

She’s pregnant, and her boyfriend wants nothing to do with her or their baby.

Brock Benson thought he met the woman of his dreams when Mia moved in next door to him. That is, until Mia introduces him to her boyfriend. With her being tied to another man—even one that’s not good enough for her—Brock keeps himself at a distance.

As the months tick by, it becomes clear Mia is pregnant. Brock is neighborly, stepping up to help when Mia needs it.

Then her ex returns, bringing trouble Mia does not need in her life.

That’s when Brock steps in. It might not be his burden to bear, but Brock has fallen hopelessly in love with Mia. And he’ll do anything for her and her baby.

©2024 A.K. Evans (P)2024 A.K. Evans

Great story!

When Mia Shepherd moved into her own house she was ecstatic. A home, a job, a boyfriend she loved, and great neighborhood with friendly neighbors. Brock Benson felt an instant connection to Mia and then he met the boyfriend. Fast forward to Mia finding out she was pregnant and Todd not wanting to having anything to do with it. Brock became someone Mia could count on for friendship and companionship. Here was a person who was willing to go all in with her and her baby no qualms. He was one of those good guys. I liked how their relationship evolved from neighbors to HEA. Ava Erickson and CJ Mission brought this story to life with their gift of storytelling. The characters' personalities came through and made the story realistic.

I received a complimentary copy of the audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this review.

Mia and Brock

Book 17 of the Road Trip Romance Series!

CJ Mission and Ava Erickson, wow, two of my favorite narrators doing this and it was incredible! CJ really gives us a Brock vibe and of course goosebumps when he is talking and Ava, I love her as Mia! These two really made the audio perfect for this story. Listening to them, pulls me into the folds of the story and makes it seem so real! Great job!!

I don’t know how she does it but A.K. Evans always gives us a heartfelt story in this series. Once I started listening to this, I could not stop.

Tropes:
 Next-door neighbors
 Pregnancy
 Small-town
 Close-proximity
 He falls first
 Protective hero


This one gives us Mia and Brock.
Brock finds himself attracted to the neighbor that moved in, well up until he sees she has a boyfriend. He won’t overstep that line so he back off and just stays in the background watching and always there to lend her a hand if needed or anything else if he could.

Mia thought she had it all, a house, a boyfriend that loves her and now a baby on the way. But, now, her boyfriend wants nothing to do with her or the baby. Now, Mia finds herself traveling a road alone but Brock steps in and helps guide her, without asking anything in return.

I love to watch Andrea bring her couples together and fall in love. If you have not read any of the Road Trip books, you are truly missing out!

Sweet and touching story

This stand alone is the series is a sweet and touching story about Brock Benson and his new neighbor Mia Shepard.
Mia recently moved next door and from the moment she knocks on his door and introduces herself, he is smitten. But when he realizes she has a boyfriend, he keeps his relationship in the friendship zone.
When Mia ends up pregnant , her boyfriend refuses to get involved and Mia is left to do it all on her own. Though at first shocked about the pregnancy , all that changes when Brock realizes the ex has left Mia. From that moment on, Brock decides to be better friend and will support Mia in every way he can.
Each is developing feelings, but fear of losing their special friendship, they keep those feelings to themselves.
What happens when the past comes back making demands? What happens when feelings are revealed?
The characters were sweet, the story heartwarming and one that kept this listener entertainee and gunning for their HEA.
Both CJ Mission and Ava Erickson did an exceptional job with the narration.
I was entrusted a copy of this audiobook. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Easily my favorite story in the road trip series

Brock and Mia's story has easily become my favorite in the road trip series. Becoming neighbors, friends, and eventually lovers was such a heartwarming relationship to watch unfold. Brock is all the things a man should be. Even though he was interested in Mia from their first encounter, he doesn't pursue a relationship knowing she's already in a relationship. He helps out as a friend and neighbor, but when he realizes things have gone very wrong for Mia, he's everything she needs and more. In a world where too often, women are left to pick up the pieces alone, it's a breath of fresh air to see a man step up to pick up pieces of a life he didn't shatter. Sometimes life has a way of giving you so much more than what you thought you wanted. My hope is that some single mom out there reads this story, and it brings her hope for more, better, a BROCK! The narrators couldn't have done a better job on this audio. They are two of my favorites and knock it out of the park every single time.

Brock is sweet...

This is an interesting story. Mia goes through a lot in her personal life that is hard. Brock is sweet and strives to prove he is the perfect man for her...and her unborn baby...and he succeeds as they get their HEA. Narrators bring the characters to life.

Brock and Mia

Absolutely loved this audiobook! Brock and Mia's relationship building slowly as they navigated her pregnancy from her ex abandoning her was sweet and add a precocious niece, it was perfect. Loved the support shown Mia by her family, Brock, and her ex's family. The narrators were perfectly cast for this book.

Dynamic & Beautiful Love!!!

Burden to Bear is a dynamic and beautiful love story with a compelling male lead and a complex female love interest. Mia is such a fascinating paradox—her work focuses on helping children break through tough circumstances, and yet she herself is in a relationship with a man who treats her terribly. It’s interesting how she just doesn’t see that, and her lack of self-esteem is depicted well by her constantly second guessing herself and putting her worth down. On more than one occasion I found myself telling her to stop that and look beyond the surface, which for me is a sign of great character development because I’m so wrapped up in the story and connected with her. Part of that is because I experienced a similar situation, but I never had a Brock in my life. Brock is an absolutely adoring and beautiful man—the classic cinnamon roll hero who knows how to treat a woman and show her through small actions that she is a queen. I love how he supported Mia and cared for her no matter what she did or didn’t do, and how he stood by her as a friend a neighbor throughout her ups and downs. Brock is truly the partner we should all have in our lives! His niece is quite the spitfire character as well, and I truly enjoyed how she brought out the best in Mia. This world and these characters are so real and authentic—author AK Evans has built another heartwarming story of overcoming obstacles and finding true love along the way. The narrators did a fantastic job of bringing this world to audio life through their tones, inflections, and the passion they put into every moment of reading the story. I felt like I was right there in the world of Brock and Mia, and I rooted for them from start to finish!

Sweet

I’ve read the book and also listened to this story and this is the first I’ve read of the road trip series. A friendship to love was a good story. I thought Brock was amazing!

So happy to be back on the road with A.K. Evans

This may be one of my favorite of the Road Trip Series, although I love them all. Brock and Mia's story was so sweet, and the slow burn I didn't know I needed. I was glad Tony the tool didn't last long because it was clear from the moment they met that Brock and Mia were going to have something special. The way they pined for each other for months, and built such a genuine friendship first, made their relationship so much more special when they finally crossed the line.
Mia was preparing to be a single mother but Brock was having no part of that. He was there for Mia every step of the way and was the absolute best man to and for her. Their families both loved the other and their support made the bond between Brock and Mia even more solid. I loved Brocks brother and niece. They really added to the story without taking away from the MMC and FMC. The two of them were so sweet but when they became intimate, they turned up the heat. Everything turned out exactly how it was meant to be for Mia and Brock. A.K. Evans delivers another emotional and powerful story that will make readers fall in love with this couple. CJ Mission and Ava Erickson were fantastic as Brock and Mia. I love when the narrators make me feel like I know the couple and I'm on the journey with them, and they did in Burden to Bear.