Audiobook Review: XO, Zach by Kendall Ryan

KA
Feb 4, 2018
6 min read

*Runs around the room screaming* It’s Live! It’s Live! XO, Zach is here and it rocks!!! Zach, swoon all the swoons. It’s live across all platforms (including audio 🙌🙌) Grab your copy today! Not sold? Check out this excerpt and review - not my best, as I've been sick :(

xo, Zach By Kendall Ryan Standalone Release Day: Jan 23, 2018

The first time we met was at a party.

Your ex arrived to show off the person he'd left you for last month, and you asked me to pretend to be your date.

I was more than happy to help. You were attractive, smart and witty--and that kiss we shared? It left me wanting you for days.

The second time we met was in my office on campus where we were both surprised to discover you were the new master’s degree student in poetry that I would be working with. You promised to be professional. I did no such thing.

The late nights and intense study sessions spent alongside you majorly throw me off my game. I want you, and I fight with myself daily over this fact.

I know I'm crass, that my sexual innuendos and dirty mouth annoy you, but I live for those two bright spots of color in your cheeks. If that's the only reaction I can get out of you, I'll gladly take it.

You hate Mondays so every Monday I slip an anonymous poem into your bag and your smile gets me through the week.

I think I'm falling for you, and I know it's wrong. I know that I'm only supposed to be your adviser and nothing more, but here's the thing. I think you're falling for me too.

xo, Zach

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon US

Amazon UK iBooks Nook Kobo Amazon US - Paperback

Amazon UK - Paperback Audible US

Audible UK

Amazon US - Audiobook

Amazon UK - Audiobook

EXCERPT

"This is serious, Poppy. Will you promise?" "What am I promising?" This man had a way of getting me to say things, to feel things, to admit things that I might not have otherwise. I wasn't sure if it was because he was older and wiser and that much more cunning at these types of discussions, or if it was just because being near him seemed to physically lower my inhibitions. He was like a walking shot of tequila. "I need you to promise me that if anything physical happens between us—that it will be very consensual, and very sex-positive. I need you to understand that I will worship you and make you come So. Many. Fucking Times." He annunciated those words so clearly and slowly, I felt them with every beat of my heart, every pulse of heat between my legs. Oblivious to my hammering heart, Zach continued. "But I also need you to know that if I do or say anything you don't like, all you have to do is say so and everything will stop. Just the word no, Poppy. Use it and I promise to leave you alone." "Leave me alone as in stop mentoring me, stop helping me in the program?" His face was serious and he shook his head without even considering it. "I will never stop mentoring you, as long as you want it. Giving in to our attraction—or not—will never be a condition for my help. I want you to succeed, and it has nothing to do with how much I want you in my bed. Do you understand that?" I felt myself nodding my head. I knew what he was saying. Despite how aggressively Zach put his feelings on the subject of us out there—I knew he'd never betray my wishes. "Okay," I murmured. He considered me for a long moment, neither of us blinking. "Why did you approach me that night at the party, Poppy. Did you find me attractive?" Was he fucking serious? Of course I find him attractive. Actually, attractive was too weak a word. I found him mesmerizing. Addictive. Enchanting. Impossible. "I'm not saying I do, but if I wanted something to happen ..." I swallowed a wave of nerves and took a shallow breath as Zach's mouth curved into a grin. "Something as in finding out how many times in a row I can make you come using my mouth, my hands, and my ..." I held up one hand. "Yes. That. How would it work, isn't it, like, forbidden?" God, why did the word forbidden make me feel even hotter?

By: Kendall Ryan

Narrated by: Sebastian York, Andi Arndt

Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins

Unabridged

Release date: 01-23-18

Language: English

Publisher: Kendall Ryan

Whispersynced at $7.49/ $3.47

REVIEW

Rating:

Cover - 5 stars

Story - 5 stars

Performance - 5 stars

Overall - 5 stars

Content:

Emotion - 4

Angst - 1

Swooning - 5

Likeable Characters - 5

Steam - 4

Humour - 4

When Zach helps a girl out at a party he’s at the last thing he expects is for her to turn out to be one of the graduate students he’s mentoring this year. But she is, and he can’t help how he feels. Poppy has more at stake than just her schooling, but Zach is persistent, which isn’t helped by the fact she can’t stop thinking about him. And the mystery person that is sending her love poems. Can they overcome their differences and be together, or is their relationship too forbidden?

Kendall Ryan knows how to grab my attention, she is the mistress of the sweet, sexy alphas and Zach didn’t disappoint, although, he is different to any of her other characters that I’ve met. He might be right up there as one of my favourite book boyfriends. I need more Kendall goodness in my life, her writing never fails to make me laugh, make me swoon, and make me sometimes curse. All the marks of a fantastic story, if you ask me.

This cover, swoon, I love it so much. It’s Zach, for sure, just how I envisioned him, and the little note with the narrators’ names on the audio edition is perfection and goes with the theme of the story.

I listened to this book in one sitting, once I started I just didn’t want to stop. These characters were so likeable and a joy to spend time with. Even the supporting characters. Cody and Jodie were fun.

Zach, sigh, Zach, he was so lovely, I fell for him right along with Poppy. He was charming, and sexy. Sweet, kind-hearted and swoon, that dirty talking man has it all. Poppy was such a sweetheart, she knew what she wanted and was determined to do it. I loved that about her, she had some extra issues that I wasn’t expecting but that just made her even more amazing, I loved her. Girl crush alert.

Zach’s mom is such a joy, I’d love for her to have a story, maybe a novella, that would be cool, she was such a hoot. I laughed at loud on more than one occasion.

I loved the progression of their relationship, they had to work at it and it all felt very organic and real to life. They had a couple of stumbles but no major meltdowns which is a nice change of pace, compared to my recent listens. The sexy times, holy, pass me a fan, talk about melting headphones. I knew that dirty talker Zach wasn’t all talk, he couldn’t have been and thankfully he walked the walk too. I liked that although there were aspects of the forbidden in their relationship it wasn’t the primary focus and didn’t really play that much of a deal breaker in their relationship. This is such a sweet, sexy story. I loved that it was more of a slow burn. There wasn’t a lot of angst and it was really quite charming.

Andi Arndt and Sebastian York’s voices blend really well together generally but on this production, it seems even more so. They really complement each other. The performances were stellar as always. I really enjoyed how they both portrayed Zach’s mom who was such a fun character. The sexy scenes are performed brilliantly, and the emotional scenes were delivered with such conviction that as a listener you can’t help but come engrossed and invested, it’s really such a beautiful experience. Their voices sounded a little different in this book, maybe a lower register? Or maybe it’s been a while since I’ve heard them together, I dunno, I’m weird, it sounded spot on though. The production was smooth and enjoyable with no noticeable issues.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 1.5 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. She's a traditionally published author with Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins UK, as well as an independently published author. Since she first began self-publishing in 2012, she's appeared at #1 on Barnes & Noble and iBooks charts around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than three dozen times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine.

Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras

Connect with Kendall Ryan: