Audiobook Review for Crooked by Penelope Ward, Vi Keeland, Andi Arndt (Narrator), Aiden Snow (Narrator)

 

Crooked by Penelope Ward, Vi Keeland, Andi Arndt (Narrator), Aiden Snow (Narrator) 

Published:   March 29, 2026 by C. Scott Publishing

Genre:  Romance

Taken from Goodreads:  A new, sexy standalone with DUET narration from New York Times Bestsellers Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward

The last thing I needed was a live-in bodyguard. And I definitely didn’t want him. Six foot two, with broad shoulders that were impossible to ignore and a talent for getting in my way, Wes Callahan was a walking bad decision.

But when you’re the daughter of a notorious mob boss, apparently your opinions stop mattering the moment your father ignites another war. I’d spent my entire life trying to escape that crooked world—new name, new city, newfound freedom. At least until I was suddenly shacked up with my new bodyguard.

Wes knew exactly how to push my buttons. He was also infuriatingly protective. And smart. And funny. And thoughtful when he thought I wasn’t paying attention. Little by little, the walls I’d built started to crack, and falling for the bodyguard became the most dangerous thing I’ve ever done. Because if my father found out, Wes wouldn’t just lose his job. He’d lose his life.

Getting involved with him was reckless, yet I couldn’t find a way to stop it, no matter how hard I tried. But while I was busy losing my heart, the man who took it was hiding a secret.

And it turned out, the most dangerous man in my life wasn’t my father after all—it was the one who threatened to break my heart.

 

My Thoughts: Crooked had me blushing, smiling, laughing, and cheering.  Mafia romance is not my usual jam, but this book has me reconsidering.  I could not stop listening.  I became quickly invested in Juliette, her life, and her bodyguard. 

The dual narrators of Aiden Snow and Andi Arndt are the perfect voices.   They brought the characters to life.  I could feel their emotions and picture their lives as I was listening.  The story was brought to life for me while I listened.  They are a couple of my must-listen narrators.

Everything about this audiobook is wonderful.  I enjoyed listening and the characters were fun and relatable.  I will recommend this book repeatedly.

Thank you Hambright PR for a copy of the book via BookFunnel in exchange for my honest review.

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Meet the Authors: 

Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles are currently translated in twenty-six languages and have appeared on bestseller lists in the US, Germany, Brazil, Bulgaria, Israel, and Hungary. Three of her short stories have been turned into films by Passionflix, and two of her books are currently optioned for movies. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.

 

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over forty novels.

In 2014, Penelope’s fourth book, StepbrotherDearest, became the #1 bestselling independently published Kindle ebook of the year on Amazon.com and was credited with igniting an entirely new subgenre of romance. Her 2016 smash hit RoomHate debuted at #2 on The New York Times Bestseller list. Penelope is an Audie Award Winner and three-time Goodreads Choice Romance of the Year Nominee. Her books have been featured in Entertainment Weekly and Publisher’s Weekly (Starred Review).

Penelope’s novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.