Witty, Emotional, and Sizzling Romance!

I really enjoyed this story! I didn't know what to expect and it really took me by surprise and it turned out to be a real GEM of a book! It was fun reading this witty, emotional, and sizzling romance. Darby is a hardworking Doctor who's patients and research are her life. Michael is a sexy, driven, successful architect who has an unwavering plan for his future. When they meet at a mutual friends wedding, their attraction is electric. When they realize neither has time or the desire for a relationship, they agree to an uncomplicated, no strings arrangement. It starts out perfect for them both, and their chemistry is explosive. When a horrible boss, and a dirty politician father complicate Darby's life, Michael is there with unconditional support, and help. Darby's heart starts to soften for the kind hearted, sexy man who she never saw coming. But Michael is full of secrets, and when his work sends to the other side of the world, it breaks both their hearts. I loved the journey this story took. I loved the progression and growth of Darby and Michael's relationship. They took time to really get to know each other, making me want to cheer for their HEA. This story had the perfect balance of fun, emotion, suspense, and steamy.
Erin Mallon does a terrific job capturing each characters personality. I love the excitement, emotion, and passion she brings to her performances. I was so enthralled from beginning to end, and was totally invested in Darby and Michael. I can't wait to find out what happens next in bk #2 of Gilded Love, Chrysalis!

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Great start to the Gilded Love Duet

Kilby Blades has created a fantastic duet in Snapdragon and Chrysalis. Darby and Michael's relationship really took a lot of twists and turns, and I was so glad to be there through it all. Snapdragon is told from Darby's perspective

Both Darby and Michael were complex characters with so many layers, and they both were not looking for a relationship. They wanted no strings. But wow did fate have more in store for these two. Snapdragon does not end happily - you get their happy-ever-after in Chrysalis. But trust me when I say it is totally worth the investment of you time to get to know these two.

The audio of Snapdragon was wonderful. Narrated by Erin Mallon, the audio really gave me a sense of Darby's changing emotions, the vulnerability that she tries to hide from the world, and how she lets herself be more free and open with Michael.

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Book 1 of 2

This book had me hooked, I was just waiting for the declaration of love.

Cliffhanger Ending, told from her point of view. Next book is Chrysalis told from his point of view and hopefully an ending.

What happens when two busy people agree to no strings monogamous sex until it gets complicated? Everything, life IS complicated.

I loved both Darby (strong, smart, hard working woman) and Michael (gentleman, smart, and protective). They made sex with friendship but not love seem easy, but life never comes easy. Lots of work and her family drama.  

I listened to this on Audible and Erin Mallon did a great job.

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Compelling story, standout narration... 4.5 stars!

Kilby Blades kicks off her Gilded Love series with the two books that make up a duet. Snapdragon introduces listeners to Michael Blaine and Darby Christensen, two people who share a once-in-a-lifetime connection but choose to enter a no-strings-attached arrangement that ends once one of them utters a single word: snapdragon. But as is the case with arrangements like this, very real feelings get in the way, as do secrets and complications.

Blades impresses with a well-written story and two very intriguing characters. It's clear from the get-go that Michael is the more romantic one while Darby comes off as the one who is able to keep her emotions in check. They're both career-driven and meeting each other slowly but surely goes from being an expected passing fancy to more yet no one's willing to admit to it. The story is told from Darby's perspective, and with a narrator as exemplary as Erin Mallon, everything is raised to a much higher level. Mallon's talent seems to know no bounds, and her ability to make a listener like me want to lean back and simply listen to her highlights exactly that.

Four stars for the story, five stars for the narration, with an average rating of 4.5 stars for Snapdragon.

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Waiting to hear those 3words

This is part one of a duet and holy moley what good start it was.

Cliffhanger ending, but it leaves me wanting to immediately binge into book two.

I will say this concept of one narrative for each book is interesting but as wonderful a job Erin always does, I found myself missing the second voice. Diving into book two now so we’ll see if my mind changes on this.

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Amazing narration and an unique story.

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 Snapdragons stars!

This is my first experience with this author, and I liked the idea of this story after reading the blurb, and I'm glad that i took a chance on it.

I've been reading different things lately and this one brought me back to the traditional contemporary romance side.
I was hooked by their story since the very beginning...
Both were so engrossed in their work fields and their growth as a professional, that they missed the companionship of a lover, without all the responsibilities and duties of a relationship. So then it started their "arrangement" as each other escape.
I've felt like a voyeur, looking inside their inner and most vulnerable moments together and apart.

The evolution of their "relationship", their agreement, their chemistry, their doubts, their undeniably connection... I loved everything about them!

Right now I just need more of Michael... I've got Darby's thoughts, fears and emotions and I love how passionate and fierce she is, but now I'm in deep with her about Michael and I just need his POV!

I'm starting Chrysalis right now, because they're too good to each other to be left apart!

🎧 About the Audiobook Narration 🎧

Erin Mallon is the narrator of this first part and she does an incredible job bringing up all the emotions and the feels that Darby is feeling... I freaking love it!

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1 person found this helpful

Darby and Michael

Darby and Michael meet at a mutual friend's wedding. Neither one wants a conventional relationship and decide to enter into a mutual friends with benefits relationship without falling in love. If either one wants to end the relationship, their word is "Snapdragon". This book narrated by Erin Mallon is from Darby's point of view. Even though it's a two part story, I enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to listening to the next part from Michael's point of view. Hopefully, they can get their HEA.

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Absolutely Wonderful!!

Snapdragon by Kilby Blades is a really amazing, page turning read. I loved ths story and Highly Recommend it to all readers.

A Great story with beautifully narrated Audio book.

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✫✫ 5 Stars ✫✫

This is only my second book by this author and i have to say I really enjoyed that this book felt like a true romance book to me. So many books have so much drama that it takes over the love story but this book felt like it was 100% about the couple meeting, getting to know each other and falling in love, all of the other things going on are very much secondary. This was a breath of fresh air for me since I don't love all of the drama and angst in my book that most do. I really enjoyed that they were both adults with professional jobs and acted like it throughout the book. And man this book was steamy!!! With that said I have to warn every one that this book ends in a cliffhanger so you need book 2 for sure. Thankfully both are coming out the same day so we don't have to wait. I am starting book 2 right away because I can't wait to see how this couple's love story turns out.

The narration was perfect! I love Erin Mallon and she is the reason I listened to this book to begin with.

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8 people found this helpful

Steamy good time!

Snapdragon by Kilby Blades one hot steamy good time. Kilby Blades is a new to me author, and I enjoyed listening to Darby and Michael's story in audio. Snapdragon is book one of the Gilded Love duet, and Erin Mallon narrates this audio. I hadn't listened to a solo narration from Erin in a while, and her ability to keep me super intrigued and entertained by Kilby's words never lets me down. In Erin's performance we meet Darby, dedicated doctor and daughter of a sketchy Republican politician. Erin portrays Darby's passions, desires, and vulnerabilities as she figures out her feelings for Michael, hot architect who she agrees to have no strings attached sex with. Michael is a dominant, protective, and emotionally supportive lover whom Erin portrays perfectly in her seductive male voice. (Which I love!) Michael and Darby has electrifying chemistry, and what started as just a mutual friends with benefits relationship turns into so much more, until Michael makes a life altering decision and ends the relationship by saying the word "Snapdragon".

Overall, I really enjoyed this audiobook! If you love a friends with benefits story with a hot protective alpha male, a passionate driven female, lots of super no strings attached steamy times, a little bit of mystery, sketchy family ties, and the need to listen to book 2 right away so you can get all the answers, then you will love this book. Excuse me while I go listen to Chrysalis now!

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