✫✫ 5 Stars ✫✫

This is only my second book by this author and i have to say I really enjoyed that this book felt like a true romance book to me. So many books have so much drama that it takes over the love story but this book felt like it was 100% about the couple meeting, getting to know each other and falling in love, all of the other things going on are very much secondary. This was a breath of fresh air for me since I don't love all of the drama and angst in my book that most do. I really enjoyed that they were both adults with professional jobs and acted like it throughout the book. And man this book was steamy!!! With that said I have to warn every one that this book ends in a cliffhanger so you need book 2 for sure. Thankfully both are coming out the same day so we don't have to wait. I am starting book 2 right away because I can't wait to see how this couple's love story turns out.

The narration was perfect! I love Erin Mallon and she is the reason I listened to this book to begin with.

8 people found this helpful

❤️ THIS AUTHOR GAVE & GAVE.. & DELIVERED BIG TIME ❤️

When I got this, I thought I knew what sort of a story it was going to be.. but boy I was totally wrong!!.. this is a unique and full-bodied romance told over a two book Duet with layers and all sorts of wonderful and delicious things I just wasn’t expecting. The love story that grows and develops between the boundaries set by very independent career focussed Michael and Darby happens one sexy liaison at a time and it’s so well-written and paced as their ‘casual’ relationship organically morphs into more. But more wasn’t what either one was ever looking for in their lives - hence the ‘stringless’ agreement.. yet care, respect, compassion, companionship, compatibility, deep love and a life-changing forever partnership is what they happily got. However, it will only happen after the emotional struggles.. after the slow character growth.. after the walls on both sides are taken down brick by painful brick.. and, after the old scars and present damage caused by two self-centered Fathers are finally put to rest.

Worth a credit? Absolutely, this story grew.. and grew.. and grew in depth and in magnitude to become a spectacular listen and gave me much much more than I was ever expecting. In book 1, Erin’s wonderful narration as Darby gives us their first meet.. the laying down of a simple ‘sex only’ agreement and the boundaries that came written within it.. of her growing attraction and the sizzles between the sheets was all perfect. And, in Book 2, Sebastian’s narration as Michael telling of his realizations.. his dilemmas.. and his life-altering plans to woo his woman back was sooo romantic and sigh-worthy. This is a new (to me) talented author I’m definitely going to be looking out for from now on.

3 people found this helpful

A Book The Misses the Mark

Snapdragon features a clever set-up and includes some really refreshing feminism vibes. However, I would note that this book reads quite a bit like women's fiction rather than a romance, The couple lacks the essential chemistry and the intimate scenes feel rather rushed.

2 people found this helpful

Amazing narration and an unique story.

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 Snapdragons stars!

This is my first experience with this author, and I liked the idea of this story after reading the blurb, and I'm glad that i took a chance on it.

I've been reading different things lately and this one brought me back to the traditional contemporary romance side.
I was hooked by their story since the very beginning...
Both were so engrossed in their work fields and their growth as a professional, that they missed the companionship of a lover, without all the responsibilities and duties of a relationship. So then it started their "arrangement" as each other escape.
I've felt like a voyeur, looking inside their inner and most vulnerable moments together and apart.

The evolution of their "relationship", their agreement, their chemistry, their doubts, their undeniably connection... I loved everything about them!

Right now I just need more of Michael... I've got Darby's thoughts, fears and emotions and I love how passionate and fierce she is, but now I'm in deep with her about Michael and I just need his POV!

I'm starting Chrysalis right now, because they're too good to each other to be left apart!

🎧 About the Audiobook Narration 🎧

Erin Mallon is the narrator of this first part and she does an incredible job bringing up all the emotions and the feels that Darby is feeling... I freaking love it!

1 person found this helpful

Awesome beginning!

“Snapdragon” was a fun and spicy read that had me hooked from the very first chapter.
When Darby and Michael first meet, the attraction between the two is instant. Darby is a hard working doctor and researcher. Michael is an architect who is always thinking about his next project. The two are both super busy and decide that a no strings attached relationship is exactly what both need. But as this arrangement progresses, feelings neither was expecting begin to develop.

I loved Darby. She’s smart, independent and knows what she wants. With a scumbag of a father, she works hard at her research job and helps people beat their addiction. Michael is a cinnamon roll of guy with a dirty side that was a delightful surprise. It’s always the quiet ones you’ve got to watch out for, they’ll surprise you the most. The story is witty, smart, and makes you feel all kinds of emotions. “Snapdragon” is a duet and “Chrysalis” is out now. I’m starting it right away because I need more of Darby and Michael.

Erin Mallon is a rockstar narrating the story solo. As usual, she brings all the emotions perfectly to life. Erin was the perfect choice to narrate Darby and “Snapdragon”.

1 person found this helpful

What a start!!

Snapdragon is the first book in the Gilded Love Duet. And wow, the chemistry between these two was amazing. I couldn’t stop listening. Erin Mallon captured all the emotions. She brought this amazing story to life, I felt all the indecision, frustrations, confusion, lust, love and tension. The ending left me ready to dive into the second book without hesitation. I can’t wait to see what’s next.

1 person found this helpful

Good

Good story and good narrative. Took me a bit to get into it, but worth it!

Hanging on every word

Wow! One thing's for sure: I won't ever be able to look at a snapdragon again without thinking about Michael and Darby. I haven't had characters get this far under my skin in a good while. Michael is a completely swoon-worthy romantic, and Darby does a fair amount of swooning no matter how unattached they claim to be.
When I read the blurb for Snapdragon, I expected a fun romance with a bit of feels - because we know they have to fall in love, right? What I didn't expect was how caught up in the story I would be. From the very first meeting, I was hanging on every word. The story has a little bit of a friends-to-lovers vibe or maybe a friends with benefits - however you want to classify it, Michael and Darby have fantastic chemistry, and I love how Kilby Blades builds the relationship between them. The emotion feels real enough to touch as it grows from lovers to friends to something more.
I also didn't expect a cliffy, but I sure got one. The closer I got to the end, the more I worried about how things were gonna come together for these two. I knew this was the first in a series, but so many romance series are built around a new couple in each book. Not so with this one, and if the cliffy doesn't get you right in the heart, I'd be so bold as to say you might need to go back and reread because I think you missed something.
I had the pleasure of listening to Snapdragon, and Erin Mallon is one talented narrator. The story is told from Darby's point of view, and the author made an excellent choice with Erin Mallon. The combination of Mallon's performance and Blades' writing makes for one impossible to hit the pause button story. And since I have to know what's next for these characters, I've already got book 2 loaded up and ready to go.

Holy Cow... what a journey!!

This was the first book that I'd read/ listened to by this author and i was blown away. The story has so many different elements. Darby and Michael are both extremely busy in their chosen fields... too busy to have regular relationships with people that take too much work. But when they meet at a mutual friends wedding, they connect and decide to try the friends with bennies route.

Of course, feelings always occur when things like this happen... except they put a safe word in place in case those feelings ever did start or it got complicated - aka Snapdragon.

The ending was kinda sorta sad... BUT i saw that there is a follow up to this book, so I'm ready to start reading/ listening now!!!

Loved this... and the narrator, Erin Malone, did a great job telling the story and keeping me interested!!! Great job!

I received an ALC for my honest review!

Need to find a new Narrator- absolutely terrible

I've listened to over 20 books on here and this narrator is the worst I have come across!!