Before We Came

Lakes Hockey Series, Book 1

By: Sloane St. James

Narrated by: Edward Black, Chloe Ryan

Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

Birdie

Her funeral unraveled decades of secrets hidden from me—horrible secrets. This rabbit hole I've fallen down has revealed my past is much more sinister than I could have imagined. Everything I thought I knew has been a lie, and now there's only one place for me to turn: back to the people who have been searching for me all these years.

One of those people is my newfound brother's best friend: Lonan Burke, star defenseman for the Minnesota Lakes. His dirty talk and praise offer an easy escape as I shift into my new life. I'm ready to start anew with the ones who love me, but I'm not so sure I can settle down when I've just been set free.

Lonan

She's back. We were kids the last time I saw her, but my innocent crush from childhood is full-grown now. And it's not so innocent anymore. She's a breath of fresh air from the series of one-night stands since being drafted into the NHL. I've only got one shot with her, and I'm not taking it for granted. I may give her the passion she's been craving, but she's the intimacy I've waited for my whole life.

When her story hits the media, she needs a place to hide. I offer her sanctuary in my penthouse. For the first time, this frigid condo feels like a home, and she's made me believe the future I've always wanted is within reach. For now, I'm willing to hold her hands during the day and pin them down at night. But I want more.

This spicy hockey romance features dirty talk, praise, suspense, kidnapping, angst, a fatal car accident, second-chance love, forced proximity, and of course, a happily ever after. Intended for mature listeners.

©2023 Sloane St. James (P)2024 Podium Audio

Welcome to my Auto Read Authors Sloane St James

First I have to say I was completely utterly blown away by this book how was it her debut???. I listened in one sitting, and it is so much more than a hockey romance. It was full of suspense, and had the capacity if tweaked just a little to have been a contender with book of the year. Birdie/ Bridget our FMC had her life as she knew it completely blown up just after the death of her mother. She decides with the encouragement of her best friend to do a dna match . She knew her mom was not her birth mother , but wanted to learn more , and maybe meet the people who gave her up.

Lonan our MMC just happens to be at the bar with his Hockey team after coming home from an away game. He sees Birdie, and goes up to speak to her and the chemistry..takes flame. i love the couple's banter, the narrators Edward and Chloe really did an amazing job conveying all the feels in this first meet , and the " one night stand" that was a new beginning.
The only flaw I see in this scene.. is Lonan didnt see the birthmark , didnt feel deja vu with her grey eyes that were unique to her. But they were little kids...when Birdie disappeared.

When Birdie meets her birth mom, she found out the truth , truths she was learning from her Mother's journals. The woman who raised her always told her she had been given away. She remembers her brother's pet nickname she had given her. Then her brother called his best friend ; and in walks Lonan.
It wasnt just a one night stand .. this was the boy who had meant everything.
Tropes:
-Hockey romance
-Second chance romance/childhood friends
-Brother's best friend
-It's always been her
-Forced proximity
-Found family

When I say this is on line with my fave second chance books. The tension, the healing of child hood trauma, the learning to love because Birdie really never had someone to love.
There were complications because Birdie's mom had changed her to Canadian citizenship , and the Social Security Admin had her declared dead after so many years missing, She almost had to go back to Canada.
Lonan held on. He was determined to never lose her again, and how he went about it was to me just beautiful.

I wanted more about the kidnapping, the police uncovering evidence in the journals and her childhood home.
I wanted more about Birdie's passion for cooking . I hope in future books we get to see her make it as a chef.
I loved these characters, and I hated for the book to end.

“I will love you forever,” he says against my lips. “Forever,” I promise. No matter the circumstances, we would always find each other. This love existed before I forgot, before I remembered, and before we came to be what we are in this moment.”

Amazing

WOW!!! Is what I have to say about this ALC. I fell head over heels for this book when I first read it a year ago. I FELL HARD ALL OVER AGAIN!!! This is a book I always said I would like to read as if it was for the first time and I felt like I did when I listened to it. I seriously ugly cried all over again. My favorite characters coming to life was the biggest highlight for me. Edward Black did an amazing job as the voice of Lonan Burke. His sultry voice drips sex appeal. Chloe Ryan as Birdie was exactly how I imagined Birdie would sound These narrators delivered the story, the banter, and the spice was all pure chef’s kiss perfection.

Unique hockey Romance

So so good. Highly recommend. Such a different hockey Romance. And the spice is exquisite!

One of my favorite series ever!

I absolutely adore everything about this series and book! I thought the narrators did a fantastic job bringing Lonan and Birdie to life! I cried when I found out we were getting these as audiobooks and it was way worth the credit! If you love hockey romance with emotion and spice, definitely check this one out!