Love Unwritten

Lakefront Billionaires, Book 2

By: Lauren Asher

Narrated by: Noah B. Perez, Vanessa Edwin

Rafael

Ellie Sinclair is a hopeless romantic who writes love songs.

I'm a struggling workaholic who could inspire a hundred breakup albums.

On paper, we have nothing in common except for my son.

For eight months, I avoid her until our summer trip.

Fourteen days. Two islands. And one nanny I shouldn't be attracted to.

Spending time with Ellie is expected, but enjoying her company?

That isn't part of our travel plans.

After my divorce, I swore to protect my heart at all costs.

Even if it means breaking hers in the process.

***Ellie

What's worse than working for a grumpy single dad?

Admitting that I once had a secret crush on him in high school.

Thankfully, Rafael Lopez and I have changed since we graduated from Wisteria High.

He is a billionaire with a company to run and a child to take care of.

I'm an unemployed songwriter he hired to watch his son and teach music.

We coexist without any issues until a vacation changes everything.

Lines blur and old feelings for Rafael return with a vengeance as I face a new dilemma.

Being his son's nanny is one thing, but wishing for more?

Sounds like a heartbreak song waiting to be written.

©2024 Lauren Asher (P)2024 Lauren Asher

I adored this one!!!

Ellie Sinclair is a hopeless romantic whose dreams of being a professional songwriter were crushed in a heartbreaking way. She went back home and started teaching music for her stepfather. That's where she meets Nico Lopez... and his dad, Rafael. Well, not really as she had a humongous crush on him in high school. It's not like he even remembers her. He needs a nanny for his son, who's dealing with a genetic condition that will eventually diminish his ability to see in a radical way. They bonded through their love of music and Formula 1. 
Rafael has been tolerating this bubbly woman in his house because he will do anything for Nico. He's jaded and grumpy and dealing with his ex-wife constantly disappointing their son is taking its toll. Nico wants to travel - Hawaii specifically - and he wants Ellie to go with them and won't take no for an answer. 
14 days. 2 islands. 1 suite. They shouldn't be feeling those feelings. They shouldn't care so much. He's the boss. She's the nanny. He wrote off love forever. She writes love songs. 
I had fallen in love with Rafa and Nico in Love, Redesigned and I was waiting impatiently for their story. All I can say is all the stars!  
I love a grumpy single dad and Rafa is one for the books. When Ellie starts peeling off the guarding layers around his heart, you fall in love with him right along with her. His story is heartbreaking. His love for his son is beautiful and touching.
Ellie has demons of her own and it's swoon worthy how Rafa goes to bat for her without ever taking away her agency. 
I won't say more to avoid spoilers but I loved that the Prom King and Nico found their star.
Narrated duet style and wow. I absolutely adore Vanessa Edwin and her tone of voice and how melodious she sounds fits Ellie to a T. She's sassy, funny, vulnerable. Perfection! Noah B. Perez has wowed me ever since the first time I heard him and now he's a one-click buy for me. He nailed his performance as Rafa, a broken man who deserves  the world. All the stars! 

Love

I absolutely loved Rafa and Ellie’s story, it was such a nice continuation of the Lakefront series. There is something special about books where characters can “see” each other. I loved how much Rafa opened up to Ellie and accepted Ellie. Beautifully written.

A love story without an end

Some books give you the feels. Others touch your heart. Very few touch your soul. And then there’s Love Unwritten. The trifecta.
When you add to a wonderful story the amazing talent of Vanessa Edwin and Noah B. Perez, the outcome can only be perfect. And make me cry. Well, I guess that was to be expected.

Rafa hired Ellie as Nico’s nanny. He doesn’t seem to like her much, from her clothes to her joy. It takes away the dark clouds hanging around him sometimes. And he just doesn’t know what to do with that. Noah was spot-on with the annoyed, workaholic, growly side of Rafael, but also in the loving, vulnerable moments where you just want to hug him.

Ellie had a crush on Rafa back in high school, when he was the bigger-than-life football player and she was the quiet band geek. And he may be grumpy, but she won’t be putting up with him. Vanessa was perfection. The love, the tenderness, the joy in her voice, as well as the doubt and her own vulnerability that she turns into strength. I can’t imagine a better Ellie.

The way they love Nico was heartwarming. Their interactions and how they don’t want to go there while at the same time not being able to deny the pull between them… I know there’s no image, but I didn’t need one with the voices of these two narrators. You can feel the tension, the longing, the I-want-it-so-much-but-I-can’t-have-it.

A trip with Nico to Hawaii is the perfect way to finally wonder “what if” as they share secrets and scars in the dead of night. The emotions in their voices really got to me, and I found myself crying and smiling and smiling through tears. They played with my emotions like Ellie plays her guitar. And it was beautiful.

Ellie and Rafa's perceived flaws—physical and otherwise—made them unique. And perfect for each other. And Noah and Vanessa hugged me with their voices and embodied the notion that, whatever comes, love really can be all, defeat all, and conquer all.

Rafa and Ellie’s story is a love song without an end, just like their love for each other. Just like my love for this audiobook. Because I know I’ll get back to it from time to time.

This book

I really enjoyed this one a lot! It’s so far my fav Lauren Asher book! I dream to have a cute family like they do at the end!!

mi estrella 💫🌺

🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

4⭐️ 1🌶️

This book will make you fall in love with love. Lauren has a way with writing the best slow burn love stories that just make you really appreciate love in new lights. 🥰💕

This pulled at all of my heartstrings, and I even teared up at one point (which is not something I normally do). 🥹 There were heart wrenching moments, endearing moments, swoony moments, fun and flirty moments.. just all the moments! All wrapped in a book that will capture your heart. 💗

I listened to the audiobook done in duet style by Noah B. Perez and Vanessa Edwin, and I loved it so much! Both narrators did a stunning job with the characters and I can’t recommend listening to this enough! 💖

Notable tropes:
🌺 nanny/workplace romance
💫 single dad
🌺 grumpy/sunshine
💫 past trauma
🌺 mental health rep
💫 billionaire romance

🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

Back at the lake!

Rafael and Ellie were so good you guys! Single dad. Billionaire. Nanny.

I absolutely loved all of the character development in this one! We not only had a FMC with past trauma and healing BUT we also got it from the MMC!

Each of them had their own issues and each of them were constantly trying to heal themselves knowing that that is the only way to have healthy relationships in the future.

I also enjoyed that we got to see plenty of Ellie as the nanny and not just the one he would fall for. Her relationship with Nico is part of the reason they end up together at all so I loved that we got to see that development as well.

I started with a digital copy and read that for 50% and then was lucky enough to also get it on audio and finished the other 50% that way. I think the narrators make this book 1000%!

And if I’m being honest the first 25% of the book could have been condensed into a prologue or summarized into a single chapter. I found myself wanting to not push through even though the other 75% is well worth it!

I can’t recommend the audios for this series enough! <3

Genuinely captivating.

This slow burn love story is soul shattering, thought-provoking, heartbreaking and basically a roller coaster of emotions.

Noah B. Perez and Vanessa Edwin brought their respective characters to life with a depth and distinction that is genuinely captivating. Their delivery is flawless and they convey the emotional nuances of their personalities with remarkable authenticity

The author wrote a beautiful story full of passion, heartbreak, hope, healing, forgiveness and surprises I didn't see coming....splendidly.

Characters inner struggles were beautifully woven into the storyline without messy unrealistic drama.

Great love story! Voice actors brought the story to life for listeners. You will enjoy the great ending.

Wonderful Story & Listen🎧Captivating & Delightful

This is my first Lauren Asher book, and I loved everything about it, from her wonderful writing style to the fabulous characters and storylines to the perfectly cast narrators who bring it all to life from the pages to your ears. The book covers some of my favorite tropes, ones I will never tire from, a nanny/single dad, grumpy/sunshine billionaire romance. I adored the lead characters, self-made billionaire Rafael “Rafa” Lopez, his nine-year-old son Nico who is a real scene stealer, and Ellie Sinclair, the nanny. Ellie was a songwriter, but returned home to Wisteria after getting burned by a friend who stabbed her in the back, then used the songs she wrote without giving her credit for them. Putting her song writing behind her, she took the nanny job, working for the guy she had a crush on in high school, Rafael Lopez, the prom king, who was three years ahead of her in school. Ellie and his son Nico hit it off and bonded, but Rafa never warmed up to her, but that was just him, always serious and hardly ever smiled, though she thought she was getting through his facade. But an error in judgement has Rafa fuming, and he fired her immediately, without hearing her out. That rash decision bites him in the butt, because Nico is not happy about it and after hearing his son out he gets second thoughts about firing her and wants her to come back, but it is not that simple. I loved all the layers of this story, and the depth and complexity of the characters is incredible, so is their growth and development. It is a wonderfully plotted story that has the perfect balance of drama, charm, heartfelt emotions and a slow burn, but so worth the wait romance. Lauren Asher, thank you for this beautiful story and emotional rollercoaster ride. 

🎧📚🎧  Noah B. Perez and Vanessa Edwin were the perfect cast to bring these characters to life, humanizing them, and giving each a voice that was fitting, accents and all. I loved how they took their roles and made them their own, sounding believable and just as I imagined the characters to sound. Perez’s portrayal of Rafael was spot on, nailing every aspect of his personality, from inner turmoil and gummy self to his loving and caring side and all in between. Edwin was just as amazing as Ellie, also grasping every aspect of her personality, her vulnerabilities, and her strength. Both were equally fabulous performing the roles of the secondary characters, and Nico’s voice, too. They set the right tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and had you feeling them all. These entertaining storytellers are a pleasure to listen and their performance elevates this already amazing story to another level. Thank you for another fabulous listen.

consider my heart strings pulled

This story is so emotionally convicting. Rafael and Ellie have both been through so much. And they've come out on the other side in such different ways. Not to mention -- Nico's condition with his worsening eye sight.

I shed a few tears along the ride with this one. The character development is top notch. Lauren Asher does it again -- navigating touchy subjects in a masterful and careful way.

Tropes to expect include:
- single dad and nanny (duh)
- family vacation
- grumpy/sunshine
- opposites attract
- billionaire mmc