Warning: This book includes mature content such as: sexual content, and/or drug and/or alcohol use, and/or violence.
Stuck Up Suit by Penelope Ward, Vi Keeland Narrator: Joe Arden, Maxine Mitchell
Published by Tantor Media on April 11, 2016
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Length: 8 hours, 54 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Audible Purchase
It started out like any other morning on the train.
Until I became mesmerized by the guy sitting across the aisle.
He was barking at someone on his phone like he ruled the world.
Who did the stuck-up suit think he was…God?
Actually, he looked like a God. That was about it.
When his stop came, he got up suddenly and left. So suddenly, he dropped his phone on the way out.
I might have picked it up.
I might have gone through all of his photos and called some of the numbers.
I might have held onto the mystery man’s phone for days—until I finally conjured up the courage to return it.
When I traipsed my ass across town to his fancy company, he refused to see me.
So, I left the phone on the empty desk outside the arrogant jerk’s office.
I might have also left behind a dirty picture on it first though.
I didn’t expect him to text back.
I didn’t expect our exchanges to be hot as hell.
I didn’t expect to fall for him—all before we even met.
The two of us couldn’t have been any more different.
Yet, you know what they say about opposites.
When we finally came face to face, we found out opposites sometimes do more than attract—we consumed each other.
Nothing could have prepared me for the ride he took me on. And I certainly wasn’t prepared for where I’d wind up when the ride was over.
All good things must come to an end, right?
Except our ending was one I didn't see coming.
Stuck Up Suit was the perfect blend of sexy, snarky, and soul-stirring. And that’s something I’ve come to expect from Keeland and Ward. That it was narrated by Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell made it all the better. 🙂
Soraya was a character I was immediately drawn to. I admired her pluck, especially when it came to MBP – Mr. Big Prick – as she and her friends referred to Graham. She showed the world this girl who wasn’t afraid to be bold in her style or manners. The more I got to know her, the more I identified with her. Being estranged from my own father, I had more insight into her protective mechanisms, her figurative armor, and her trust issues. I got her to put it simply. So I understood her hesitation, her disbelief when it came to Graham’s interest in her. I understood her hesitation with all things when it came to Graham.
Graham was the epitome of a stuck up suit. He was callous, gruff, driven to the point of single-mindedness, arrogant, narcissistic…well, you get the picture. Until a girl, whose face he hadn’t seen, told him off, put him in his place, and left a few photos on his phone that she’d found and returned. No. Not those kind of photos. 😉
Getting to know Graham allowed me to get insight into the reasons he was all the things he was. And he had some good reasons, let me tell you. But seeing him, his true self, emerge from the armor he’d encased himself in was emotional and heartwarming. He was such a good man underneath those horrid manners and expensive suit. I fell just as hard and fast as Soraya did.
Of course, it can’t be all smooth sailing. Both Soraya and Graham had baggage to deal with. When Graham’s ex re-enters the picture with an explosive secret, their budding relationship is put to the test. Soraya reacted in a way that while I wish it’d gone differently, totally felt genuine to who she was. And you know what, love does conquer all. Even evil, greedy, dishonest exes. LOL
As I said, the narration was excellent as always when it comes from Arden and Mitchell. This duo perfectly conveyed every emotion and really embodied the characters. I was impressed…again. 🙂
Stuck Up Suit was an ideal feel-good listen. I laughed, I cried. I ached, and I swooned. It’s yet another winning romance from Keeland and Ward.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
About Brandee @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Brandee is a mom of 3 and a soon-to-be empty nester. She is also an avid reader, a genre omnivore, and a compulsive one-clicker - but she's in recovery. Besides being a reader, she's also a writer and hopes to divide the vast quantities of spare time she'll soon have between reading and finally publishing her first book.
I confess that my knee-jerk reaction was that she was judgy for letting one phone call influence her (not that I’m not guilty of first impression judgments, either) and then she was out of line to be nosing around in his phone. But, sounds like the story took off from there and they were both people with tough issues. Glad it turned into a deeply emotional read for you, Brandee.
Ha! Well, Graham was every bit as bad as Soraya thought he was…until she got to know him. 😉 But yes, this story really did turn out to be a great listen, Sophia. 🙂
It’s been a few years since I read this book but I remember really enjoying it and that it was hilarious!
It was so good, Stephanie, but then I’ve found everything from the writing duo to be fun, touching, and emotional.
hope it was a photo of her giving him a middle finger.. that would qualify as dirty right?
LOL That would be dirty and give a great message, Ailyn. 😉
I haven’t read this one but would like to and now after hearing your thoughts of the narration, I will be grabbing it from Audible. I do admire those narrators that can portray emotion so well.
Oh gosh, Renee. Arden and Mitchell did such a great job. *sigh* Makes me want to grab another from them RIGHT NOW! LOL
I’ve heard great things about this one and about these authors in general. I really need more hours in the day lol. Great review!
I can totally understand needing more time, Teresa. I hope you’ll get to this writing duo sometime though. They’re magic together!
I love when the female character puts the male protagonist in his place!!! Excellent review Brandee 😉
Thanks Sophie! Soraya did it well, let me tell you. 😉
This isn’t my type of book, but I’m glad it was a good one!
Ash @ JennRenee Read
Thanks, Ashlea. If you ever want to give emotional/romantic comedy a try, this writing duo is the perfect choice. 🙂
Twitter: kimbacaffeinate
Fantastic review. I’ve listened to this duo before and loved it. Looks like I need to devour this!
Thanks, Kimberly! I so love this writing duo and Stuck Up Suit really tripped my trigger. 😉
Twitter: Mollykatie112
I started to get this one at one point but decided the hero sounded awful and I wasn’t sure. Now you have me wanting to check it out! I like getting into back stories that tell the reasons why characters are the way they are and it seems like this one delivered!
Oh Graham was totally awful to begin with, Lorna. But yeah, once you get the reasons why and see him as he really is…*SWOON* You’ll love him!! So yeah, definitely get back to this one. Haha!
Twitter: nadz1809
I have yet to read a Vi Keeland story. Now after reading your review I realize l missing a lot. This sounds emotional.
I’ve read or listened to these two as a duo and each separately. Keeland is my fav as a solo writer but Ward is good as well. And together they’re magic! I hope you get to one soon, Nadene. 🙂
I still need to give them a go. I have a couple though on the kindle. I do love a good bit of snark mixed into the romance. Makes for some fun scenes 🙂
These two together are magic, Anna! I’ve not been disappointed yet. 🙂
Twitter: Northwomn
Sounds kind of feisty and fun. How did she get into the phone? I don’t even think you can have mine without a password? I like these narrators, too. I’m glad to see you are enjoying some audiobooks.
Well, he naturally didn’t have his phone password protected, Anne. 😉 It was a great listen!
It’s great when you can relate to a character like that as it sure makes it a lot easier to get them and understand their point of view then. Sounds like both have some things to deal with and things to figure out before they get their happy ending. And that’s good to hear both narrators did a good job here. I haven’t listened to them yet, might have to check them out. Great review!