Second Draft

By: C.M. Seabrook, Carter Blake

Narrated by: Addison Spear

It's been almost a year since I've seen her, the only woman that's ever gotten under my skin, and made me wish I was a better man. More than just the washed up hockey player, turned sports journalist whose body is almost as scarred as his soul.

Layla Harper made me hope again. But life has a warped sense of humor, and I wasn't the only Bennett brother that fell for the girl with the caramel colored eyes.

The night I saw Travis with her I knew I'd lost, even before I had the chance to fight. Because one thing I never compete with my brother over is women. Even if the woman stole my breath, and my heart with one single kiss.

And damn, what a kiss it had been.

Now, she's pregnant with my brother's baby. A baby he wants nothing to do with. And he's asked me to clean up his mess.

What he doesn't know is that I'm in love with her, and I have no intention of offering her the deal he's laid out. I have a deal of my own. One that will finally make her mine.

©2017 C.M. Seabrook (P)2017 C.M. Seabrook

Beautiful story of second chances

What did you love best about Second Draft?

I loved the journey between Carter and Layla. Carter an alpha hunk with a heart he doesn’t know he has and Layla broken but still has a sliver of hope in her guarded heart. I felt this story. I could not stop listening to this sexy heartfelt story until I heard the end.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Second Draft?

There were several memorable moments. But when Travis shows back up and Carter leaves after angry words and words not said. I held my breath thinking no don’t go, what you have with Layla is getting stronger each day. But the most memorable is Carter changing his mind racing to Layla in the hospital fighting for her life. The emotions I felt as Carter on the floor hoping praying Layla makes it brought tears to my eyes. He wanted desperately to show Layla her baby. He swore he would be the father to that child no matter what. I was praying holding my breath hoping all would be well.

Which character – as performed by Addison Spear – was your favorite?

Addison Spear made me feel like Layla was telling me this story of love hurt and family strife.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A story of loss hope redemption

Any additional comments?

C M Seabrook has a way of writing a story that draws me in from page 1 and I read or listen to the end. Her stories make me feel.

Second chance romance will all the feels!

Omg this book. It brought out all the emotions. Once I started I couldn't put it down. Just when I thought I knew where the story was going...BAM!...another twist that kept me glued to the pages and anxious to find out what would actually happen.

The first time Layla, a shy, bookish girl tryin hard to work her way to a better life than the one she's running from, meets Carter, a former professional hockey star who's trying to adjust to life off the ice, is when he saves her life, but fails to get her name before parting ways. Their second encounter happens at a club and there he gives her his number. But because of an honest mistake it's the wrong number and Carter loses hope of ever seeing her again. A year passes and Carter finds Layla in the last place he can imagine: living as his brother's roommate in his home. This time around a year has changed everything for them and along with ghosts of Layla's past, it could keep them apart for good.

A fantastic story of second chances, fighting for love, and overcoming heartbreaking losses. I loved this book so much! Five well deserved stars and a bonus star to Carter for his awesome gift to Layla!

Addison Spear is a new narrator to me. I wasn't too sure I liked her male voice, but after a few chapters in I was sucked in to the story and fully enjoyed the audiobook. Overall she did great just wasn't the biggest fan of her male voice at first. By the end I was thoroughly enjoying it. Definitely looking forward to more of her narrations.

Unique and memorable storyline

I wanted to read and listen to as many Wicked Book Weekend authors as I could before the signing, so when I saw Second Draft by CM Seabrook on Audible, I grabbed it without reading the blurb. I can tell you, if I read the blurb first, I most likely would not have listened to this one, so I am glad I went in blind because I really enjoyed it! I listened to this almost a month ago at this point, so this review will not have the detail I usually have. But I feel I need to tell about the story a bit so you don’t jump to conclusions from the blurb.

"I’ve never believed in love at first sight, or fairytales, but I’m pretty sure this woman is a whole lot of everything that I need."

Carter is a hockey player turned sports journalist, but this was not a sports romance. He saved a girl on the street that was almost got hit by a car while reading a Vi Keeland book. The connection was instant and electric. They then meet again and he gives her his number, only it was the wrong one. For a year he couldn’t get her out of his mind but he had no way of finding her again.

"A year of fantasies, a need I couldn’t shake. I obsessed about her, wanting to possess every sweet innocent inch of her perfect body. Consume her until there wasn’t anything left."

Carter has a house that he lets his loser younger brother live in for free because he is always on the road. A year after meeting her, he heads to his house to stay and finds Layla, the girl he connected with, living there. But there is more…one drunken night, Travis, the little brother, took advantage of his drunk roommate, Layla, and knocked her up.

"What terrible luck, that the man I’ve been fantasizing about for the past year is the brother of the man I’m ready to strangle right now. The man whose baby I’m having."

There are no feelings between them, it was one drunken mistake that she can’t even remember. Layla has had a really rough life with no family at all to depend on. She can’t have feelings for her baby daddy’s brother, can she?
"Because what man in his right mind would be interested in a woman carrying another man’s baby? Especially when that man is his brother."

I don’t read stepbrother books, I don’t like sharing type of books, but this wasn’t anything like that, and I never felt uncomfortable with the topic.

Likes:

•I love that she’s a reader, even in a bar (I do that), and an aspiring author.
•I loved the references to popular Indie authors.
•Though you would think the brother thing would bug me, it never did.
•A pretty unique storyline.
•Carter was amazing.

Dislikes:

•The twist in the epilogue was too easy.

The Narration:
This dual POV book was all narrated by Addison Spear. She did a pretty good man, so her narration neither added nor detracted from the story. I would have loved a sexy man voice for Carter though.

The Down & Dirty:
Second Draft was a very quick listen that offered a lot of story in just over 4 hours. It was a pretty unique storyline that I would normally shy away from but I thought it worked just fine here. The hero was swoony and the heroine had a good reason (in her mind) to resist him. All in all it was a very satisfying read, and I will read more from Ms. Seabrook.

Rating: 4 Stars, 4 Heat, 4 Narration

Sweet little story

I only have one negative about the story, it’s too short! I felt lit the performance was read a little fast. I slowed the speed down but that didn’t fit either. Over all I would recommend reading/listening to this book.

Brother VS Brother

Second Draft is a second chance encounter with a obstacle in the middle of it. An audiobook with a peerless narative.

My favourite pieces of this romance were:
▪️I love that Layla is a reader, even in a bar, and an aspiring author
▪️I love the references to popular indie authors
▪️Dual pov which gives you all the right vibes
▪️No extra filters
▪️Epilogue dated in the future with

That being said, I have read other novels from C.M Seabrook and I absolutely loved them. However, I didn't fall in love with the characters or narrative. I'm not sure, but the narator had put a little damper on it.

Narator Addison Spear speaks way to fast, rushing through the narrative making it difficult to keep up. She does slow down a bit after the first few chapters making it easier to listen. Her articulation was good, but she needs to practice slowing down.

Great story

First, I love audio books but the narrator spoke way too fast for the first couple chapters, rushing through it was hard to keep up. She then slowed to a comfortable pace or I go used to it, either way, it was a great story.
Not your typical love at first sight romance, drama when needed, and perseverance through tough times and decisions. Very rewarding in the end.

Great

I loved the way this book lead up to the chemistry. Well written and easy to visualize.

Carter is Swoony....

This was my first book by the author so I didn't know what to expect but I am always open for trying something new. Layla and Carter met one day and had a connection, but due to unforseen circumstances never reconnected until Carter found Layla again one day...living with his brother in a house he owned. This got even more complicated after that when Travis, Carter's brother, up and leaves when he decides having a baby with Layla is too much responsibility. HIs role in the story was complicated, maddening, and overall very sad.

Carter and Layla had great chemistry and a great connection. Carter made for a great hero in that he was willing to do anything to make things good for Layla and he seemed to really genuinely love her. Layla was a complicated character in that she had a difficulty past and upbringing, a very messy relationship with her parents and a fairly traumatic past in general.

I overall enjoyed the author's writing style and the story. There were some parts of the story that could cause triggers for some people given the nature of the subject matter. I was engaged in the story line and very happy that after all of the sadness in Layla's life she finally got her happily ever after.

This was my first listen by Addison Spear. It was a little fast in the beginning so I had to slow down the speed in order to be able to enjoy the book. I did feel like it took a little while for me to get into the narration aspect, but the story was intriguing so after a while I was fully engaged in all aspects of the book. #AudiobookObsessionReviewer

Loved It

This is a great series. This book is heart warming "AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY"

love it

The day he saved Layla from walking into traffic was the day Carter's world changed. He knew something was different about her. He didnt get her name or number. He thought he would never see her again. A chance encounter at a bar was kismet. He accidentally gave her his old phone number. When he realized it, Layla already disappeared. When he returned year later, to his surprise, Layla was his brother, Travis , roomie. At 21 , Travis was still an irresponsible, spoiled, wild and still dependent on his brother. Many complications, and another chance for Carter and Layla, but not without, complications and trouble from Travis.
Addison Spear narration was very good.
🎧audiobookobsessionreviewer🎧