Famous Last Words

By: Claudia Burgoa

Narrated by: Jason Clarke, Stella Hunter

USA Today bestselling author Claudia Burgoa pens a thrilling tale of hard losses and second chances. This angsty romance will destroy listeners' hearts and then put them back together again. Prepare to ugly cry like never before!

I shouldn’t be alive.

I should’ve died in that plane crash.

Instead, I survived.

Thrived, even.

After all, I’m a rock star and a billionaire.

There’s nothing I can’t buy.

Nothing, except peace.

And when it all comes crashing down around me…

The guilt.

The pain.

The sorrow.

That’s when she appears.

The one woman I’m not allowed to love.

I needed her to fill the void after everything was lost.

There she was, ready, and grieving too.

Both of us are broken, shattered people.

So why does she make my heart want to beat again?

I need a new reason to keep breathing.

And I think that reason—is her.

Famous Last Words is a story of pain, forgiveness, and the faint, lingering hope of rekindling a love that once meant everything.

©2024 Claudia Burgoa (P)2024 Claudia Burgoa

Healing

WOW! This book brings so much pain and heartbreak and then it turns it around to heal those that were left behind from a tragic accident.

Famous Last Words is a touching story of second chances and healing. The story follows the lives of Brahms, a famous rock star who has so much guilt that he is barely hanging on, and Seraphina, a therapist who has lost most of her family at whom she blames Brahms.

The timeline for this book shifts from present to past over the course of a decade, as both characters struggle to come to terms with the trauma of an accident that altered their lives forever. Seraphina is struggling to save her rehabilitation center while also struggling to keep a deeply buried secret that she fears could be exposed at any moment. When Brahm arrives for her help he only adds to her troubles as he seeks her help to recover from a recent accident but truthfully he needs her to heal his pain from guilt. Seraphina remains determined to keep her secret and save her beloved rehabilitation center. The characters are well-written and likable, and their struggles will make you feel all the emotions. They are both stubborn and determined and the back and forth between them was so well written.

Jason Clarke and Stella Hunter do an outstanding job in their performance in this book. They delivered the needed emotion and feeling and I was captivated by both of them from beginning to end.

great narration eh on story

the narrators did great. no one breaks your heart like Jason Clark. however, the story seemed disjointed and the kids felt like they came in because there wasn't anywhere else to go with the story. there was no romantic tention between the main characters because she wouldn't follow directions and visit him more often. I don't know. I just felt like they were there to save the story because the fmc was to stubborn. the tragedy was horrible but the lies and what not didn't make much sense either.

Not enough backstory to root for the characters

The premise was intriguing, but the story seemed rushed and not enough details about their pasts to get invested in their love story.

Famous Last Words was Phenomenal!

This has to be one of my favorite Claudia Burgoa books ever and I love all of her work. I read and listened to the audio and wow! Just wow! Seraphina and Brahm had me in an emotional chokehold until the very end. If you are a Claudia Burgoa fan like me, you know she writes emotionally gripping stories and I went into this knowing that, but I was so not ready (in the best way) for the journey she took us on with this couple.

The angst was angsting in Famous Last Words! The family secrets and lies that were told to protect Seraphina, and the blame that Brahm took in the process almost broke them to the point of no return.

Finally finding happiness in each other after suffering such a tragic loss on both side was supposed to be the start of their happily ever after, but their families had other plans and turned their backs on both of them. Not before tearing them apart first.

When they are put back in each other's lives, their emotional connection and pull to one another is tested. He wants her back. She wants him to pay for killing her family.

Can this couple be true to themselves and honest with eachother to break through the walls they've erected, or will the lies, betrayal, and tragedies of the past keep them apart? If his brothers have anything to do with it, they will get the HEA that they deserved a long time ago.

Stella Hunter and Jason Clarke brought the angst and emotion through these characters phenomenally and made me love this story and couple even more. I highly recommend reading and/or listening to this if you like emotional, second chance romance with family drama mixed in.

AN ANGSTY, EMOTIONAL, ADDICTIVE SECOND-CHANCE

This is a slow-burn.. however, it’s a slow-burn in Hell because Seraphina hates the man she once loved above all others and is now being forced to work with to save her Center. She’s a gifted Physiotherapist with Titanium walls and a hardened heart for Brahms, the man who shattered it seven years ago. They were childhood friends before they became best friends.. they were sweethearts before they became lovers.. and they were dedicated soul-mates before they became victims on opposite sides of a tragedy. And Brahms had his story too.. because there’s tragedy and secrets written in the addictive chapters. A physically and mentally broken man, heartbroken and desperate to get forgiveness from the only woman he’s ever loved back - the woman whose heart was shattered at the worst possible time in her life. Is there a chance for them?

Worth a credit? Yes absolutely. Past and present chapters slowly unearthed the love that was precious in the past and then the ruins of their present, what they’d both lost and what they’d have to do to get their soulmate back. Doubts, angst, raw feelings, insecurities, scars, grief, revelations, forgiveness, understanding, growth, passions both deep and intense, love and the happily ever after was all expertly brought to life in duet-style acting by Jason and Erin who always deliver stellar five star moving performances. There was sweet and tender and filled with warmth too along the way as their eventual second-chance bloomed into so much more.

The audiobook narration was great

FAMOUS LAST WORDS is currently a standalone but I have a feeling we will be seeing more of Brahms and his brothers in future books, whether or not they get their own series remains to be seen.

This story is an emotional roller coaster and at times I wasn't happy with the ride but then something would happen to make me enjoy it again. I fluctuated with my rating of this book several times, just like the roller coaster ride.

At first I had a hard time c0nnecting with Seraphina, I found her quite ann0ying at times. She would be bl1nded by certain things and not let the person she cl@ims to love explain his side of anything, who does that? She did have some red3eming qualities and overall she did win me over...a little bit at least.

Brahms, I liked him instantly and I knew there was MUCH more to the story than what was being said. He lost so much and had a hard time dealing with everything so he turned to v1ces that dr@gged him down the rabbit hole and he found himself in tr0uble more than once. Thankfully his brothers were there to help him out when needed.

Both families had issu3s, but Sarafina's wins the aw@rd for the most F#cked up. YIKES! Her father was the w0rst and I don't say that lightly either.

I loved the third quarter of this book and was really happy with the way things played out. I wish it hadn't taken them so long to work things out but I understand why things had to play out the way they did. As I mentioned earlier I really liked Brahms brothers and I am looking forward to seeing them pop up at some point in the future.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book and really enjoyed the way Jason Clarke and Stella Hunter brought this story to life with the duel narration.

I would recommend this book to readers that enjoy Steamy Contemporary Romances, New Adult Romances, Second Chance at Love Romances, Rockstar Romances, Enemies to Lovers Romances, Billionaire Romances, Forced Proximity Romances, or Secret Baby Romances.

Happy Reading!!!

An Emotional Journey! Fantastic Story & Listen🎧

Oh Claudia Burgoa, what did you do to my heart? Breaking it into pieces before putting it back together again. This story drew me in like no other, grabbing my attention and captivating it the entire time and yes, tugged at my heartstrings the entire time, too. As if it was not heartbreaking enough that Seraphina lost her brother and sister in a plane crash, but then to learn the person responsible for the crash wrecks her even more. Then other news that stemmed out of that tragic event pours more salt into her wounded heart. Seraphina gave her heart to Brahms, her brother’s best friend and bandmate, but he crushed it and her. Brahms lost his best friend then and has had survivor’s guilt since and that is not the only guilt he suffers from, but from keeping secrets, secrets to protect Seraphina and her family. When Brahms is at his lowest, his brothers bring him to a unique rehabilitation facility, run by the only person who can really save him, Seraphina. She did not want to see him again, but the practice she built is hurting financially, and treating him may be the only way to save it. Brahms is in a bad way, both mentally and physically, but seeing Seraphina again lights a fire within him. Seraphina is still angry with him and his betrayal, and has no intention to forgive him or let him in again, but she has her own secrets, and despite her anger, she does still care about him. This beautifully written and plotted story is so much more than a second chance romance, it is a second chance at life, especially for Brahms and them as a couple and a family. Claudia Burgoa, thank you for another this wonderfully moving & emotional story. 

🎧📚🎧 Jason Clarke and Stella Hunter deliver an outstanding performance portraying these characters, humanizing them with their personality, giving each a voice that is fitting and is believable in every role they played. Clarke's portrayal of Brahms was amazing, capturing his despair and transforming him into who he was meant to be. Hunter was just as amazing as Seraphina, grasping all her strength and her determination, as well as her heartache. Both were fabulous performing the roles of the secondary characters, too. They set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and had you feeling them all. These entertaining storytellers are a pleasure to listen to and their performance enhances this already amazing story to another level. Thank you for another wonderful listen. 

Angsty, emotional story with amazing narration

Another angsty, amazing and wonderful book from Claudia. This is a second chance romance filled with secrets from the past, recovering, second chances and new beginnings. Claudia is the queen of angst and this book does not disappointed. I love her writing style and how she takes us from the present to the past. This takes us on a journey to understand what they’ve been through, the reason for their decisions and how they learn to forgive. Seraphina and Brahm have been through a lot together…and while apart. They are both strong, determined, but also a bit broken. Their journey back to one another, finding forgiveness and moving onto new beginning is beautiful. Jason Clarke and Stella Hunter deliver a phenomenal performance. Their voices are so smooth, amazing and delightful. They give the characters perfect emotion, voice and personality. A great listen!

Excellent emotionally charged second chance!

~*~ Audiobook Review ~*~ I really enjoyed this slow-burn journey of healing and second changes. So many layers, so many lies, so much pain! It is an emotional rollercoaster with wonderful performances in duet by Jason Clarke and Stella Hunter. Seraphina and Braums have been through the ringer and both have a lot to lose, but oh so much to gain! Both are keeping secrets. The story is peeled back in layers through glimpses to the past as they try to navigate his complex and risky rehabilitation.

You can't go wrong with Stella and Jason! Claudia Burgoa is also a go-to author, so this combination delivers a solid 4.5 stars!!

Emotion roller coaster with amazing narration

If you love emotional roller coasters that will break your heart before putting you back together again look no further than Seraphina aka Sephy and Brahms journey in Famous Last Words. This couple have been through so much, the past is full of pain and heartbreak but it’s the secrets they are both keeping that could ruin any future they think they may have……. Jason Clarke and Stella Hunter did a wonderful job bringing this book to life. They were spot on with the emotion and the angst which in turn means their narration was exactly what this book needed. My heart broke as I watched Brahms struggle with trauma and addiction but it was always going to be hard to rekindle his relationship with Sephy. This quote from Brahms at the start says it all "Our souls had already kissed a thousand times, so even if our lips never met, I knew our hearts were tethered, bound by a love that was pure, deep, and transcendent. And that was enough." I cried and I held my breath as I listened to this raw and emotional journey. Ms Burgoa really knows how to deliver emotional, roller coasters and this is one of her best especially when she gives you an epilogue that makes it all right.