When the Time Is Right

A Standalone Brother's Best Friend Romance

By: Aly Martinez, M. Mabie

Narrated by: Erin Mallon, Teddy Hamilton

Fate doesn’t always happen overnight.

Hudson Bradley is the cockiest, most stubborn, hard-headed man I’ve ever known. And for 15 years, he’s been my brother's best friend.

But lately, what I’m feeling for him isn’t friendship at all.

Why is my heart racing every time his blue eyes lock on mine?

Why does every word he rumbles in my ear make my body come alive?

And worst of all, why did I bet him that I could find a woman he and his son would both love?

If I hadn’t given up on love altogether, Hudson would have been perfect for me. After all, he was there the day my world fell apart. He’s spent the last six years piecing me back together.

There are a million reasons why we could never work, but after a single kiss, I can’t remember any of them.

Now that the time is right, I have to make him mine - before I lose him forever.

©2020 Aly Martinez (P)2020 Aly Martinez

When the Time Is Right: A Standalone Brother's Bes

2023 UPDATE (🎧🎧AUDIO REVIEW🎧🎧) ... The #feels got feelier!! MAD props to Erin Mallon & Teddy Hamilton, M.A.D.!!

PEOPLE!! There is a lot to say about the greatness that is this story! This book is easily my favorite of favorites for 2020 thus far!

I don’t know what to tell you and not tell you about the story itself or rather the plot points because I honestly do not want to give this storyline away at all. Not because the story itself is some magical unicorn, no, because the way these two authors unfolded the story is the power behind its greatness. Hand to God … over 80% of the time reading this story I was crying, for some reason or another, and 98% of the time I was smiling like a lunatic. I mean …. WHO ARE THESE WORD WIZARDS?!

Funny Story: I haven’t read a lot by M Mabie but I’ve read almost every word Aly Martinez has ever published and if it’s one thing I have learned from her books is to expect the unexpected, the twists will probably have some twists of their own and they are never rom-coms. NEVER. Those are truths I know to be true. But then she co-wrote When The Walls Come Down and wreaked havoc all up in my truths. They wrote an honest to goodness rom-com. I mean … who knew?! Here’s the part all of you get to laugh your butts off at me … so this book gets announced and I do what I do which is stay away from any and all advertisements because I like going in blind(ish). The books are even similar in look, amirite? So obviously I was expecting the same type of feel-good rom-com they delivered in the previous book. Well ……. *side-eye*

Wanna know something even funnier? This is the best feel good, friends to more story I have probably read in a really long time. I wasn’t crying because of sadness per say (okay, that’s a lie, the prologue is ridiculous) it was more the sentimentality and emotion behind every single moment in time between Hudson and Lex. It’s a thing of beauty when you are laughing thru tears or crying thru laughter in a story. These two, even as friends, were next level. Their love for each other was amazing. The power of their friendship unrivaled. They were in love with each other even before they themselves knew it. And we as readers experienced their journey and awakening right along with them. I am in awe of this story.

very good

Loved it !! this story. the narrator is so fantastic it's like your really there!! good overall

Fun, Emotional and Steamy Romance!

This friend to lovers romance captured my heart right from the beginning and never let go. It was so heartbreaking but also so heartwarming, sweet and sexy! This opens with the heartbreaking loss of Alexis' boyfriend. Now years later, she has picked up the pieces of her life and moved on but hasn't given her heart to another. Hudson has a young son from a one night stand and has made a life co-parenting along with support from Alexis and her parents. They have built a life of great friendship and love. Until one night, after too many drinks, the real emotions come to light and Alexis and Hudson realize their true feelings they have for each other. They're best friends who are now also passionate lovers. Their friends and family all saw it coming and are very happy for them both. But life is never easy for long, and when secrets come to light, and when Hudson might lose the one person who he would give his life for, can these friends find a way to stay together? Hudson was so sweet, giving, and protective. He was alsways there for those he cared about, making sure they had whatever they needed. Alexis was quirky, fun, and loving, making them such a perfect pair. I love a great grand gesture, and this had one with a twist that made me so very happy!
Erin Mallon, and Teddy Hamilton were so perfectly cast to narrate this fun and heartwarming romance. They completely captured these characters and made me feel all the hope, heartbreak, love, and passion they possessed. I was completely mesmerized by their storytelling making this romance even more captivating and delightful.

Best Friends Forever

Loved the characters in this book, especially Alexis, whe was funny and witty. I found myself smiling many times but also enjoyed the little angst thrown in. I really enjoyed this book and think it was more than worth the credit. Erin and Teddy did an excellent narration but they are 2 of my favorites and they didn't disappoint.

Best Friends to Forever Love

This emotional ride was totally worth the one credit. Full of love, angst, romance, humor, and all the feels. Teddy and Erin are magic in narration. Great storyline too.

Funny and Emotional Friends to Lovers Romance

A true friend to lovers romance, this story is slow building focusing on the tight friendship that Lexi and Hudson have,really giving a strong foundation for their romance. They were both blind to their feelings they had for each other, I didn’t even have an inkling of romantic love for a while except for being best friends from the start. I got some good laughs at the terrible dates they set each up on, friends sometimes really are the worst at picking out dating matches! Once they give in and test out a romance that turns out to be more than either thought was possible, pain from the past and other baggage definitely create some obstacles for their love.

“I’m so dang scared that I’m falling totally head-over-heels in love with you and then one day you’ll just be gone. Without you, who’s gonna fix me?”

The prologue of the story certainly had my emotions on high alert but the story brings a lot of humor and heart to offset the heavy emotions. Their banter was hilarious and set the true best friend vibes. Plus Lexi is the best “Aunt” that could be for Hudson’s young son Jack, I loved her relationship with him and the support she gave to Hudson through every part of being a dad. Overall a great audiobook that had me laughing and tearing up more than a few times.

Sweet

This checked all the boxes for me. It was funny, tender, sexy and had so much heart I couldn’t help but swoon. Hudson and Lexie are both amazing lovable characters. I cheered for them the whole time!

Loved it!! Easily the best credit I have spent!

I ABSOLUTELY loved this story! It is going into my favorite reads and repeats shelf! I couldn’t stop grinning throughout this and it made me happy just listening to it. The camaraderie and banter these two have is perfect. They have SO many little things they do between them but my favorite is the Time Out/In. What a great concept! I can’t say enough good things about this! Completely worth the credit if you want to smile throughout your day.

The secondary characters just make me smile(see the theme here). Cal and his teasing and not wanting the pool is great. The parents of Lex..Jane and David couldn’t be cuter! Their little additives here are superb and again I smiled when they showed up.

I did listen to this on audio. Erin Mallon and Teddy Hamilton just rocked this! They had all the voices and emotions down! They really brought this to life for me.

Cute and sweet

It’s not an epic story but it is sweet and romantic with a happy ending. Worth a read I really enjoyed it!

No chemistry

Ugh. Ok... I’m disappointed in this story. I don’t even know where to start. I’ve read and previously enjoyed books by both authors. This just didn’t do it for me. I’m surprised I made it to the end. First off, the use of the nickname “kid” (by the H to the h) is such a turn off. This is the second book I’ve read this year that focused on that nickname. The H and the h are literally a couple years apart in age. Get over it. Does nothing to sell me on the relationship. Secondly, the chemistry between the main characters isn’t believable. It feels forced to a point (that does eventually improve but much later imo) Thirdly, the H’s reaction to the h’s need to still deal with her former husband’s death is a little over the top. So much unnecessary drama. Lame, lame, lame! Good narration but not worth a credit imo.