Forbidden Nights

Huge thanks to Lauren Blakely for the opportunity to ARC-listen to this second book in the Joy Delivered series! I had such a good time with this best friend’s little sister / friends-with-benefits romance. Nate and Casey’s story brings the heat and the heart.Their chemistry? Off the charts. The physical connection is strong, but what really pulled me in was the emotional buildup and how natural their bond felt. Casey was such a standout heroine, she’s confident, direct, and emotionally grounded in a way that’s really refreshing. Even in her more vulnerable moments, she owns her truth and doesn’t shy away from tough conversations. I loved watching her take charge of what she wanted, especially when it came to Nate.Now, Nate had his moments where I wanted to shake him, but considering his backstory, his hesitations made sense. The important thing is, he grew—and that showed up beautifully during the conflict near the end. His reaction felt realistic and mature, and I appreciated how he worked through it instead of shutting down or ghosting (we love a functional man in romance).Seeing Jack and Michelle again was a highlight, and I loved how their wedding played such a meaningful role in the story. Jack and Casey’s sibling bond was one of my favorite parts, it added warmth, humor, and heart to the whole dynamic. Same goes for Michelle and her brother Davis. Those sibling connections really helped tie everything together and gave the story more depth.The epilogue and the bonus epilogue were chef’s kiss. Totally on-brand for Casey and Nate and such a fun, romantic way to wrap things up. The collection of kisses? Adorable.And let’s talk about the true MVP: Sebastian York. Once again, his narration was absolutely flawless. His delivery in the steamy scenes is just unmatched, he somehow manages to be passionate, playful, and completely locked in. No one handles those moments quite like he does. I swear, his voice could make reading the back of a cereal box sound seductive.While this book can technically be enjoyed as a standalone, I definitely recommend listening to Nights with Him first. It gives you all the context and backstory for these characters, and getting to revisit familiar faces makes it all the more rewarding. One of the things I love most about Lauren Blakely’s books is how effortlessly she weaves previous characters into new stories. Those little Easter eggs and callbacks are such a treat for longtime listener