Close to You

Winslow Grove

By: S.M. West

Narrated by: Robert Hatchet, Samantha Brentmoor

I’m locked in a gymnasium with Oliver Winslow—the only man I’ve ever loved. Sounds like a dream come true. But it’s not.

The man is hot as hell with the biggest heart, but the kicker—he isn’t mine. One truth is heart-wrenchingly obvious. Unrequited love sucks.

Just being near him makes my heart stutter, and the way he stares at me, intense and soul-searing as if he knows every one of my secrets, causes me to unravel. I won’t make it through the night. Being stuck with him may break me.

While he’s looking for a way out, I’m looking for a way in. Into his heart.

Close to You is the sizzling prequel to the steamy small town Winslow Grove Series.

©2023 S.M. West (P)2023 S.M. West

Great novella with amazing narration

A quick and fun prequel for the Winslow Grow series. Oliver and Wren have had strong feelings for one another for many years. Unfortunately, circumstances have kept them apart…until now when they end up trapped in the gymnasium. They have some things to work through…will they be give. A second chance? Looking forward to the rest of the series. Samantha Brentmoor and Robert Hatchett deliver an amazing performance. They give the characters perfect voice, personality and emotion. Two of my favorite narrators!!

Wren and Oliver

This is a novella introducing a new series “Winslow Grove” It's written by S.M. West and let me tell you I'm hooked on what looks like it's going to be a fantastic series. This prequel captivated me, I listened to this in one sitting, my attention never wavering and was left wanting, no needing, more. I can't wait to find out what Ms West has planned for Oliver and Wren.

Oliver and Wren had mutual crushes on each other when they were younger, but neither realised their feelings were reciprocated, the timing never seemed to be right for them, but when they are forced to spend time together and finally talk, well more than talk, they realise just how much time they have wasted.

I loved both of them and enjoyed getting to know them, they were so well drawn I felt like I'd known them forever! Ms West's descriptive writing style and her world-building made them come alive for me.

I can hardly wait to find out what happens next or for my next visit to Winslow Grove.

The narration, Samantha Brentmoor and Robert Hatchet is perfect, they brought Oliver and Wren to life and made me feel like they were Wren and Oliver. Perfect casting they captured every emotion and made me feel the highs and the lows. It was a pleasure to listen to their narration of this fantastic and moving story.

A sweet intro to the story of Wren and Oliver

Narrated by Samantha Brentmoor and Robert Hatchet 



📚⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Prequel Novella • Cliffhanger • Friends to Lovers • Right Person / Wrong Time • The One that Got Away • Forced Proximity • Childhood Crush • Small Town

This is a prequel novella to the upcoming Winslow Grove series by S.M. West. I loved this peek into the dynamic of Wren and Oliver. The basketball game of horse starts off the book with a confident and a bit sassy MFC, Wren. 



I loved the pace of this story - just enough information to create an amazing scene around these two characters and their backstory and also moves forward to jumping into their long overdue connection.



The situation of them being in the dark gives a bit more mystery - the MCs have the safety of the dark to feel safe; to be honest in a way they maybe wouldn’t have otherwise. 


The dual narration performed by Samantha Brentmoor & Robert Hatchet was perfection. The passion and emotion was felt through their voices. I hope they continue narrating the story in the upcoming book.


I received a copy of the audio from Home Cooked Books. I am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

Omg! I’m in love!

Oh man! I’m going to die waiting for all of you! Oliver can’t leave! I fell in love with these two. The missed timing and bad circumstances make for such a great story! This is definitely a 5 star read. The narrators were perfect! I can’t say one bad thing about any of it. So worth a credit!

Wren and Oliver

The narrators did a fantastic job bringing life to Wren and Oliver. An amazing very steamy prequel and I can't wait to read this series. These two have secretly harbored feelings for each other for years. One evening when they are forced together all truths come out and they have an amazing evening. That cliffhanger has me needing to see what happens next. 5 stars all the way.

I was sent a free audiobook by HCB and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

Sweet and Spicy Novella

I love a small town, second chance, forced proximity romance, and Close To You is a great beginning of one! This sweet and spicy novella is the introduction/prequel to S.M. West’s Winslow Grove Series. After reading this, I cannot wait to see what happens next for Oliver and Wren. I already love them! The narration by Robert Hatchet and Samantha Brentmoor was fantastic!

Second Chances Prequel

This was my first experience with SM West's work, and it was a packed, second chances, forced proximity, steamy, prequel to the "Winslow Grove" series. Wren and Oliver were friends in high school with unexpressed feelings for one another. Years later they were trapped in the school's gym where long held secrets were expressed. The prequel was entertaining, and it inspired a desire to seek out more of their story. Samantha Brentmoor's and Robert Hatchet's dual narrations were entertaining, and their performances added to my enjoyment of the story. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review.

Excited for more of Wren & Oliver’s story!

Close To You is a friends to lovers prequel to the new Winslow Grove series coming out soon. There has always been mutual pining between Wren and Oliver but it was always the wrong time. One night they get stuck in their old high school gym and that mutual pining turns into much more. This prequel got me excited for what is to come next in Wren and Oliver’s story.

Samantha Brentmoor and Robert Hatchet dual narrate this book. They both were able to conveying the longing each character had for each other. I enjoyed both of their performances of bringing Wren and Oliver to life.

Fun and Steamy Prequel

Close To You is a deliciously steamy novella that whetted my appetite for Oliver and Wren’s full-length story. These two have both been secretly crushing on each other for years, but misunderstandings and circumstances always conspire against them. When they both find themselves single at the same time, can they confess how they feel and move on together? Full of heat and heart and a bit of angst, this novella has me anxiously waiting to find out what happens next with Oliver Wren.

Samantha Brentmoor and Robert Hatchet narrated the audio of this title and they were fantastic together. Samantha made all of Wren’s hidden feelings and insecurities believable while Robert conveyed all of Oliver’s conflicting feelings of want and need and doubt to perfection. They had me hanging on their every word and had me completely immersed in this short, spicy novella that leaves us with a cliffhanger ending.

More Than A Game of H-O-R-S-E

Oliver "Twist" Winslow is a complication for Wren Tyler. Or is it that she's one for him? Hmm...🤔😉 Either way, I love how this starts and their chemistry is so good - in both friendly and REALLY friendly ways. Hubba hubba! 😘

I can't wait to see what comes next! I'm curious to see if where my mind is going and where Suzanne's went match at all. I suspect it'll be somewhere in the middle, but time will tell.

I received an author's copy of the audio book. The narrators are Robert Hatchet and Samantha Brentmoor, both of whom I always enjoy.

Story: 4.5 stars
Narration: 4 stars
Listening Speed: 1.6x