Managed

VIP, Book 2

By: Kristen Callihan

Narrated by: Rupert Channing, Charlotte North

It started off as a battle of wits. Me: the ordinary girl with a big mouth against him: the sexy bastard with a big...ego.

I thought I'd hit the jackpot when I was upgraded to first class on my flight to London.

That is, until he sat next to me. Gabriel Scott: handsome as sin, cold as ice. Nothing and no one gets to him. Ever. He's a legend in his own right, the manager of the biggest rock band in the world, and an arrogant ass who looks down his nose at me.

I thought I'd give him hell for one, long flight. I didn't expect to like him. I didn't expect to want him. But the biggest surprise? He wants me, too. Only in a way I didn't see coming.

If I accept his proposal, I leave myself open to falling for the one man I can't manage. But I'm tempted to say yes. Because the real man beneath those perfect suits and that cool façade just might be the best thing that's ever happened to me. And I just might be the only one who can melt the ice around his heart.

Let the battle begin....

Contains mature themes.

©2016 Kristen Callihan (P)2021 Tantor

Keep going

I almost turned it off in the first 5 minutes because it was cliché and embarrassing but I kept going and it got much better

my take

loved how the story progressed from the beginning till the end - though I did keep shaking my head when Sophie & Gabriel wouldn't just talk to each other just jumping to conclusions. Also couldn't understand how Brenna ended up with a British accent when in the first story she had more of a Southern one.

Amazing

Lovely romance with the right amount of angst, swoon and drama. Perfect narration and best of the series.

Funny, Swoon, LOVED this book!

I really like this series with the flawed but lovable characters, swoon worthy romance, and whitty banter. While Icon was a good story and I genuinly loved the main characters….this one is the best so far! I LOVED Scottie and Sophie. The story is hilarious and I was totally charmed.

I am obsessed with this series!! Outstanding!

I wish I could give it more than 5 stars! If I loved book 1 of this series I am utterly obsessed with this one. Kristen Callihan has such a way with character development and chemistry, banter and storytelling that there is basically nothing I would change. The narration is spot on fantastic by both Rupert Channing and Charlotte North. It felt effortless to enjoy and become swept in the dynamic of these characters that I just didn't want it to end. I need more stories like these in my life!! ALL THE STARS!!

Sunshine and chatty girl

This was a fun read. They banter and sizzle the majority of the time and it just suits their characters so well.

Seeing the unflappably staunch Scottie fall in love was beautiful.

Great Series

Wow! Loved, loved all the characters. Not sure which book in this series I liked the most. This was really good, no great. I want to listen to this book again right now which I have never done. But I think I will listen to the series all over again. Rare for me, especially immediately after the first time. Yes, I am doing it because it was that good. Great to do in between earning more credits.

Great book

Re-read January 2025:

Listened to this on audio. Enjoyed it this time around too, but not as much as my first read. The FMC's past still annoyed me, but what dampened my enjoyment of this book this time was the third act break-up. I think it affected me more this time because I didn't suspend disbelief about the FMC's past this time. She refused to explain herself when the MMC assumed the worst. I understand it's hurtful he assumed the worst, but he WAS asking her to explain. He didn't just accept the worst was true. He was hoping there was an explanation and, when she didn't provide one, what else was he supposed to think? If she hadn't done what she did in the past, I could understand her refusal to explain more, but what she did was pretty heartless.

With that being said, this is still a four star book. It's strengths go a long way to make up for it's weaknesses.


June 2023:
At 25 percent: I was enjoying everything about this book until the reveal about Jax and the FMC. It seems unrealistic she would be forgiven so easily and it doesn't sit well with me that the MMC felt bad for his reaction to the news. What she did was horrible and I would have expected much more would need to be done for her to earn trust and respect from everyone. I'm deducting two stars at this point; one for what she did to Jax and one for everyone forgiving her so easily. With that being said, I am taking a short break from this book because when I keep reading, at the moment, I can only think that I don't want the MMC with the FMC. I'll resume once I can suspend my disbelief better and pretend this book takes place in a world where people who take pictures of other people dying from suicide aren't shitty human beings.
End: I suspended my disbelief and enjoyed the rest of the book. The sexual tension between the MMC and FMC is portrayed well and seeing the MMC's growth throughout the book was enjoyable. Overall, this is a four star read. I must say, nothing about the FMC's character suggests she would take a picture of someone as they lay dying and it's an element that shouldn't have been included in this book. It's not consistent with the character and isn't even relevant to the character's journey/growth during the book.

Swoon.....

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a fun read! Managed was just as good as Idol. Oh how I enjoy Kristen Callihan writing. Her books always have great character’s with hot chemistry. I loved Sophie Darling aka “chatty girl” easy going personality, she was a breath of fresh air and Gabriel Scott aka “sunshine” was everything I thought he’d be after reading Idol. He definitely gives you a lot of swoon moments. So if your looking for a laid back, no drama, laugh out loud moments this is your book!


Audiobook review: Charlotte North and Rupert Channing did a fantastic job Narrating! 5 stars to both of them.

Great!

Great narration although female narrator seemed odd and at least 15 years older than the heroine i did not like this. Taking it aside I really enjoyed narration and Rupert was great as well.
I enjoyed it as much as Idol although it seemed a little cheesy and the ending it was rushed. Again, these are the only reason why i am not giving it 5 stars. All
in all, great story.