Teasing

Red Lips & White Lies, Book 5

De: Bella Matthews

Narrado por: Ava Erickson, Tor Tom

From #1 Amazon and USA Today Bestselling Author Bella Matthews comes a single dad, grumpy/sunshine, sports romance.

Falling for the grumpy, single dad next door wasn’t on my summer to-do list.

Did I mention he’s also a football god? A really hot one? Because he is.

Becoming said baller’s new nanny?

Yeah, I definitely didn’t see that one coming.

But nothing about Maverick Beneventi was ever what I expected.

He’s the embodiment of every broody book boyfriend I’ve ever loved, wrapped in deliciously sexy muscles and covered in beautiful black ink. All scowls and sharp edges, I was sure he hated me.

Until one mischievous puppy, one rainy night, and one unexpected job offer changed everything.

Now, my days are filled with bedtime stories and butterfly kisses, all thanks to the one person who can bring Maverick to his knees—his little girl, Rosie.

He doesn’t do complications. Or fun. Or anything that could make him smile. But somewhere between late-night talks and lingering touches, stolen glances and quiet moments . . . something changes, and I did the one thing I swore I wouldn’t.

I fell in love.

With Maverick. With Rosie.

With the life I was sure I’d never have.

And with summer slipping away and my heart on the line, I have to decide—stay and fight for the family I never saw coming . . . or walk away before I destroy it all?

©2025 Bella Matthews (P)2025 Bella Matthews

Hot nanny

This book touches on a lot of hard real life topics. The voices match the characters to perfection. I read this book when it came out but listening to it was even better. Hands down perfection. I felt ever true emotion this story told.

This made me Feel all the feels!

Nothing like a book getting you teary eyed while in your cube at work!

I loved Emmie and Maverick! Their story had me feeling all the feels! I laughed out loud, I swooned, I got emotional with the tears! I loved it all! And listening to the audio, the narrators had me feeling it all! Ava Erickson and Tor Tom definitely scored a touchdown with their narration of this amazing story!

The Perfect Summer Sports Romance

Bella Matthews delivers another swoon-worthy hit with Teasing—a steamy, emotional, and addictive grumpy/sunshine romance that checks all the boxes. If you're a fan of brooding single dads, sassy heroines, and unexpected love stories, this one is for you.

The Story
Maverick Beneventi is every book boyfriend fantasy rolled into one—tattooed, moody, insanely hot, and completely devoted to his adorable daughter, Rosie. He’s the kind of man who builds walls high and keeps his heart locked down tight.

Enter our sunshine heroine: full of energy, mischief, and charm. Becoming Maverick’s nanny wasn’t part of her plan, but from the moment she steps into their lives, nothing is the same.

Their chemistry is off the charts. The tension simmers. The banter snaps. And just when you think you’ve got it figured out—boom—Bella Matthews drops a plot twist that you absolutely won’t see coming. And it works. Beautifully.

🎧 Narration Excellence
Ava Erickson and Tor Thom are magic together. Ava brings so much warmth and heart to her performance—you feel every emotion. And Tor? The man is Maverick. Deep, growly, guarded… and when that vulnerability hits? Game over. They make this story sing. Truly one of the best narrations I’ve heard this year.
Tropes You’ll Love:
✔ Single Dad
✔ Grumpy/Sunshine
✔ Forced Proximity
✔ Nanny Romance
✔ Small Town
✔ Found Family
✔ Emotional Baggage
✔ Sports Romance
✔ Touch her and die
✔ Heartwarming HEA

Final Thoughts
Teasing is tender, sexy, and emotionally satisfying. With just the right mix of heat, heart, and surprise, Bella Matthews proves once again she knows exactly how to write the kind of romance that lingers. And with Ava Erickson and Tor Thom on the mic, this audiobook is chef’s kiss perfection.

Huge thanks to Bella Matthews for this incredible listen.

Teasing was an incredible audio experience!

With every book in the Red Lips & White Lies series I think it can't possibly get better, yet Bella Matthews ups the ante with each release. I am so in love with this series and world. To experience Teasing in audio was an experience that I won't soon forget. Ave Erickson and Tor Tom were phenomenal as Emmie and Maverick. The personality they gave these characters, as well as the side characters that always mean so much to the story, was fantastic. Ava narrating Rosie will make your heart expand at the sweetness. That's one special little girl.

Grumpy single dad, Maverick and next door neighbor Emmie (whom also happens to be his teammates sister) had me laughing, swooning, kicking my feet in happiness, and my heart just melting at the little family they built with sweet Rosie.

The single dad x nanny is becoming one of my favorite tropes, especially the way Bella writes it with all the sweet and spicy, add in the fun family and friends moments and you're in for a good time. Be forewarned - you will not want to put this story down once you start so plan accordingly.

Be warned - do not listen to Chapter 23 and 24 while you're driving. Getting choked up and having leaking eyes is not recommended on the interstate. Ava Erickson & Tor Tom delivered the emotions and fear of the situation with Rosie so poignantly and beautifully that you won't be able to hold back your emotions.

An incredible story made even better through an exceptional narration cast.

Those Beneventi Men

The single dad trope will get me every-time! Make that dad a protective Beneventi man its escalates that to a whole different level! Ava and Tom do an outstanding job of bringing these characters to life! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fabulous!

This was a great listen. Ava Erickson and Tor Thom did such an amazing job bringing these characters to life.

As always Bella Mathews gives us a wonderfully written love story. I highly recommend this and all her works of literary art.

Beautiful 🩷

I loved this story when I read it but hearing Tor Thom and Ava Erickson bring Maverick and Emmie to life brought another beautiful layer to my favorite Red Lips and White Lies series. Highly recommend!

Loved it!

Another book in the Bella universe that I couldn't get enough of! Read this in one sitting and I'm so in love with these characters! This series is a top favorite for comfort reads and this book is no exception!

Rosie wormed her way into my heart, much like she does for everyone around her and I can't get over how precious she is! The way Mav is grumpy, but so soft for his daughter had me swooning! And his protective side...even hotter! But most of all, I love how Emmie seamlessly fits in with them and isn't afraid when Mav is grumpy. This book gave me many smiles/laughs, pulled at my heartstrings, and had my heart feeling full when I finished reading. The love and care in their story really was written so beautifully!

Audiobook:
Narrated in dual by Ava Erickson and Tor Thom and they did a lovely job bringing Maverick and Emmie to life! I couldn’t stop listening and even though I’ve read this book before, I still experienced every emotion while listening!

What to expect:
🏈 Single dad
🏈 Grumpy x sunshine
🏈 Teammate's sister
🏈 Football player MMC
🏈 Hurt/comfort
🏈 Cute nicknames

Characters coming to life

🩷single dad
🏈grumpy x sunshine
🩷nanny
🏈football player hero
🩷ballerina heroine
🏈teammates sister
🩷hurt / comfort
🏈neighbors to lovers


Bella has totally done it again. She has given me my favorite book boyfriend. Each book is all consuming and they just get better and better. Teasing is book 5 in the Red lips and white lies series and we finally get Maverick Beneventi's story.

Our MMC, Maverick is a grumpy single dad. Maverick and his little girl Briar Rose or Rosie no e in next door to Emmie. Due to circumstances, she becomes Rosie's new nanny. Maverick, he's a bit of an alpha, and very protective of his family, especially Rosie.
Watching Mav change and fall emmie was a site to see.

Emmie, is our FMC. Emmie is a sweetheart. She just wants to see the good in everything and everyone.Even after all the heartache she has experienced lately, she's trying to not let it consume her and instead be there for others. The voicemails that Emmie leaves are what got me all up in my feelings.

The chemistry between Maverick and Emmie is scorching, and a bit like a rubber band with the tension between them, just ready to snap. Both characters had emotional moments and both characters had to show growth, and strength as time progressed.

For me personally, i thought little Rosie was what made this book even better. She had her dad wrapped around her fingers at only 5. But she was just the sweetest and would melt the hardest of hearts. The bond she developed with Emmie was so sweet too.

As for the audio book I will be honest Tor can be iffy for me personally, not because he's a bad narrator but more bc his voice is vastly different and deep so i wasn't sure how he'd do portraying Maverick...However color me surprised He NAILED IT!

Ava Erickson was equally great but i didn't have any concerns with her ability to hit the character.

It was such an easy audiobook to get lost into and after reading the book hearing the characters come to life, even Rosie was great.

Teasing pacts a punch. It not only has us all in the feels but it brought the steam too. Bella loves to blend sugar and spice and everything nice and Mavericks story doesn't disappoint.

Lovely Story

I loved this story. I loved everything about Rosie. She’s such a strong willed kid! The narrators were both perfect for these characters and fit into the roles perfectly!

The plot twist at the end was one I didn’t seem coming, and I loved how it all played out!