The Closer

Swift Series, Book 2

By: Leslie Pike

Narrated by: Joe Arden, Maxine Mitchell

Love is not a game Brick Swift wants to play again.

Heartbreaking memories have a hold on his heart.

The respected sport agent’s clients have become the sole recipients of his time and attention.

January Jordan is at the top of her game, negotiating the year’s biggest contract for her Memphis Maverick client.

Free as a bird, she’s not looking for anyone to fulfill an already satisfying life.

One chance meeting changes life’s direction and ignites a fire that lights the way.

Author's notes: This was previously published as Cards of Love: The World and has no new content.

While this is part of the Swift series, each can be listened to as a stand-alone. Each is about a Swift sibling, but for the best listener experience, listen to them in order.

©2018 Leslie Pike (P)2022 Leslie Pike

A Super Cute Second Chance at Love Story

I'll keep this review simple, short, and sweet. I enjoyed this fun and sexy novella. I am new to author Leslie Pike and this was a great way to be introduced to her work. While The Closer is the second book in her Swift Series and can be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading The Curve prior to this one.

The Closer is a story about getting a second chance love; a love that Brick Swift never thought he'd have a chance at again. That is until January Jordan came into his life. These two knew exactly what they wanted and didn't beat around the bush playing games with each other. Their story is isn't high on angst and drama but is high on chemistry and playful banter.

This book is narrated by Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell. These two together is always magic. They are perfect for Brick and January. Joe really brings Brick's tragic story to life. Mr. Arden does not shy away from tragedy and really pulls all the stops when it comes to the emotional. Maxine is truly amazing as January Jordan. Her character is a breathe of fresh air and Maxine is pure perfection. I can't imagine anyone else bringing January life.

Loved Brick & January

This was a wonderful novella with Brick and January. Loved that Brick found the person to help heal his broken heart after losing his wife many years prior. I liked that these two were very mature adults and there wasn't any drama within this story. Just two people who met and had great chemistry together and agreed to spend the time she was in town wrapped up in each other.

Of course, these two get more than they bargained for.

Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell were amazing as always, which is probably why I wanted this book to be a lot longer. I can never get enough of these two.

Excited for the next book in the series.

Sweet and heartwarming sports romance!

I am loving this Swift series! In this second book in the series, we get Atticus’ brother Brick’s story. Brick has an emotional past and his journey to love was sexy, sweet and heartwarming. I just loved how meeting January healed his heart from the loss in his past. Both he and January are sports agents. While initially neither were looking for anything serious the two connect instantly and it is clear from the beginning that they were always meant to be more.

There simply isn’t anything Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell narrate together that I don’t love. I have said this before and I will say it again Joe is a powerhouse narrator. His voice is smooth and silky in those intimate moments, and raw and emotional during the vulnerable ones. Maxine did a fantastic job as January. Her voice is bright and cheery and I loved her passionate and confident delivery. Such fantastic storytelling!

Bristol (the sister of Atticus and Brick) and Sawyer are up next in The Cannon and I cannot wait to listen to it next.

Short, Sweet and Flirty

The Closer was a short, sweet and flirty story that was a lot of fun. When Brick and January meet, they vow to be just friends, but quickly realize that they can’t resist the chemistry simmering between them.

I loved that Brick and January were both confident characters who were secure in their careers and identities. They didn’t play games and it was refreshing how they were able to communicate their thoughts and feelings in such an open and honest way. Their lighthearted banter was sexy and the heat burning between was off the charts. Add in the emotional connection forged between them and their story was delightful.

Joe Arden and Machine Mitchell narrated the audiobook and they were both superb. I loved the emotion in both of their voices as they told the story. Both are skilled performers that know how to bring the story to life.

Filled with a ton of heat, a lot of heart and so many smiles, The Closer was the perfect continuation of the Swift family series. I can’t wait to see what is in store for Bristol.

A Charming sexy Novella but needed to be longer

Brick is the guy you can’t get enough of: A sensitive soul hidden behind an aloof protective façade with a heart of gold. And January is the one who helps him break out of his shell to learn to love again. I loved this story and listened to it in one sitting. Like all of the books in this series it help my attention from start to finish. Yet I wanted it to be longer. I felt there was so much that could have been addressed with Brick’s tragic past that was a missed opportunity. Given his history I thought he would struggle more with a fear of loving again. Even though I thought the story could have been deeper, It was still a great listen and will be on my repeats in the future. Bricks is achingly sweet and romantic and I fell hard for that guy.
Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell are always an awesome pairing. They did not disappoint in this book. That narration duo is always an automatic purchase for me.

Fun & flirty!

Everyone deserves a second chance to find love. Brick and January’s unique love story was sweet and funny and it genuinely warmed my heart. I loved watching Brick open up and I found their cheeky banter entertaining. It’s the kind of story you lose yourself in and you never want to end.

Another successful collaboration between Leslie Pike, Maxine Mitchell, and Joe Arden. Maxine and Joe’s amazing voices brought each one of Leslie’s incredible characters to life.

Fantastic Story &Listen🎧 Gripping & Heartwarming!

Leslie Pike knocks it out of the park with this wonderful addition to her Swift series and this novella sized book packs a punch and an impressive amount of story. This second book is Brick’s story, it piqued my curiosity after meeting and hearing about him in the first book, “The Curve”, his brother Atticus’ story. Brick is a sports agent and is great at what he does, closing some of the best of deals for his athletes, but can he close and seal the deal with the first woman who not only caught his attention but made him feel for the first time in years. January Jordan is back in town and is negotiating a contract for her Memphis Maverick client, it is her hometown and she will stay there for several months to empty her parents’ home, her childhood home, readying it to be put up for sale. Brick was also at that meeting and January intrigued him, there are few female sports agents in the industry so that and the way she handles herself impressed him. He wanted to get to know her better and once the two get together and there is some serious chemistry between them. But she is going back to New York, and he has not had or wanted a relationship after his tragic loss. But this did not stop them from spending some time together and but with chemistry that strong, they could only deny each other for so long. I loved how everything played out in this book, it is a wonderfully written and plotted romance, the story flowed naturally and it was great to watch their relationship grow and blossom right under their eyes in the most heartwarming of ways. Leslie Pike, thank you for another amazing story and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧 I listened to the audiobook edition, Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell’s outstanding performance continues as they bring these characters and their story to life. They have a complete understanding of the characters they portrayed, giving each a voice that is a perfect fit for that character’s persona, sounding believable and just as I picture the character to sound. Joe Arden nails it as Brick, grasping his demeanor with perfection, Maxine Mitchell plays January’s role with perfection as well. They set the perfect tone for the story, capture all the characters’ emotions and project them into their performance, making you feel every single one. These superbly talented narrators are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another amazing listen.

Awesome novella - Love Brick and January

This is a fun, sexy, romance between Brick and January. They meet and become friends and once the flirting starts, this story gets hot! We learn Brick's story and why he hasn't been in a relationship recently. It's a heartbreaking story, but January is helping him learn to love again. I love that the rest of the family was in this story too. The narration was awesome with Joe and Maxine! I can't wait for the next book in the series! I love the Swift family!

Friends to Lovers and Over 40

Book 2 in the series but stands alone wonderfully. If you've read the first book, then you will have a few moments to chuckle at when a nod is given, but you won't feel at all lost if this is your first read.

This is the story of Brick and January, two sports agents in Memphis who are both over 40 and not really looking for a relationship. They have some great banter as they become friends, they overshare multiple times which just brings the heat up on this friends to lovers journey.

Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell do a fantastic job of bringing these characters to life. Joe broke my heart when Brick shared his past with January. There were tears. Maxine has an emotional rollercoaster to take January on as she deals with grief and falls in love.

It's a short audio coming in at just under 3 hours, but it's not short on story. There are laughs, there are tears and the end is so very satisfying.

Closing the deal on love

🎧 ALC REVIEW 🎧
Review: 4/5 ⭐️
Steam: 4/5 🔥
Audio: 4.5/5 🎧

#thecloser is book two in the #swiftfamilyseries by @authorlpike

Brick is a sports agent who comes from baseball royalty. His family is loving, slightly nosey but always there for each other. He meets a woman who gives him a run for his money. They try to have a friends with benefits until there’s a bump in the road that gives them both more to think about. January is a woman on a mission. She keeps herself known to everyone by making deals for her clients. Now the new deal she and Brick have together is more than she ever expected. Can they battle through the uncertainty of the future or will it break them apart?

As usual, @therealjoearden and #maxinemitchell did an amazing job with this narration. It was steamy, loving, and short but sweet. January was strong and Maxine portrayed that perfectly. Joe made Brick’s dominant personality easy to love even more. I definitely recommend this to anyone.