Before We Came cover art

Before We Came

Lakes Hockey, Book 1

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Before We Came

By: Sloane St. James
Narrated by: Edward Black, Chloe Ryan
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About this listen

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
Contemporary Sports Hockey Disappearance

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All stars
Most relevant
I was recommended this by a smut group. I had high hopes for it. And boy, did it deliver?!
What I wasn’t expecting was the riveting storyline and character development.
It’s got me hooked!
Now to start book 2!

Fantastic storyline.

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*Before We Came* is an emotional and layered story about identity, trauma, and long-standing love. Lonan, now an NHL star, has been part of the Hayes family since his difficult childhood. His bond with Birdie—who disappeared at age eight—has always run deep. When the woman who raised her dies, Birdie uncovers journals that slowly unravel the truth about who she really is.

The emotional journey had me hooked, and I really cared about both Birdie and Lonan. But the spicy scenes, while steamy, didn’t quite fit. Something about them felt off, especially considering everything Birdie had been through. The physical side of their relationship felt out of sync with the emotional one, and it took me out of the story a bit.

There’s still a lot to love here—the writing is strong, and the plot is compelling—but the mismatch in tone held it back for me.

most enjoyable but something was missing

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The suspense in the first half of the book was palpable. Birdie's quest to uncover her true identity and the mystery surrounding her past kept me on the edge of my seat. Each revelation added a layer of tension, making it difficult to put the book down. However, the second half of the book lacked the same intensity and I wanted to see more of Birdie's self-discovery. While the romance between Birdie and Lonan continued to develop, her personal growth seemed to take a backseat. Some plot points felt rushed, and I found myself wanting more depth and exploration of her journey. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

It wasn't quite up to the mark

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3.5 🌟
3🌶
5🎧
Birdie & lonan
Such a beautiful story and I loved the main characters. I love this author's writing and will be continuind with the other books in this series. This had brother's best friend trope, second chance at love.im glad these two had their happily ever after.
I didn't rate this higher because I generally don't like 3rd act breakups and separation. (That's just a me problem). i would have also loved to see Birdie with her brother a lot more as i was invested in their reunion. Narrators were perfect.

Birdie & Lonan

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I have read this book 3/4 times now and listening to it was sensational! The narrators are phenomial and bring Birdie & Lonan to life in the best way possible!

Suuuuch a good read/listen!!

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