Okay, let’s be real for a second. I picked this book for exactly two reasons. One: The heroine, Maggie, is a "hot mess" mom of three. I currently have a seven-year-old asking me why cats don't wear pants, a five-year-old sticking stickers on the dog, and a toddler who just discovered the joy of throwing sippy cups. I am the target audience for "hot mess mom gets swept off her feet." Two: It’s under five hours long. I can actually finish that in a week of drop-offs and phantom nap times.
So, I listened to His Sub while tackling Mount Washmore (the laundry pile that never dies). And honestly? It was exactly the kind of brain candy I needed, even if the audio had me reaching for the volume button a few times.
The "Hot Mess" Fantasy
The premise is ridiculous in the best way. Maggie wanders into a sex club thinking... well, I'm not sure what she thought, but she definitely didn't expect the BDSM buffet. It’s a total rom-com setup—the curvy, frazzled mom stumbling into a world of leather and intensity. (And let's be honest, sometimes the idea of someone else taking control and making all the decisions sounds less like a kink and more like a vacation from decision fatigue. Just tell me what to do, Terry. I’m tired.)
Terry is your classic billionaire Dom—rich, alpha, protective. Is it realistic? Absolutely not. Do I care? Nope. He sees Maggie, sees she’s out of her depth, and goes full rescue mode. It’s sweet, actually. Beneath all the steam (and there is plenty of steam, so definitely headphones-only for this one), it’s a story about a woman rediscovering herself after a divorce. I was rooting for Maggie. I wanted her to get the guy and the confidence boost.
The Earbud Situation
Here is where things get a little... complicated.
We have dual narrators, which I usually love. Silas Hart voices Terry, and he nailed it. He’s got that deep, growly, authoritative voice that works perfectly for a Dom character. When he was speaking, I was totally in. The chemistry felt real, and he grounded the story.
But then we have Maya Starling as Maggie.
Look, I know this is an erotic romance. I expect some heavy breathing. But Maya’s narration was so breathy and moany, even during scenes that weren't necessarily... active? It felt a little over the top. At 1.25x speed (my survival speed), the breathiness sounded a bit like she was hyperventilating. I kept wanting to hand her a paper bag or an inhaler.
Plus, her accent for Maggie felt like it was wandering around the map a bit. It wasn't a dealbreaker—I still finished the book—but it pulled me out of the story a few times. I found myself focusing on the voice choices rather than the plot, which is never great when you're trying to escape into a romance.
Is It Worth The Credit?
If you can get past the breathy narration, yes. It’s short, spicy, and has a happy ending where the single mom gets the guy. Sometimes that’s all you need after a day of wiping yogurt off the floor. It’s not Shakespeare, but Shakespeare didn’t have a billionaire Dom rescuing a mom of three, so who really wins here?
Just—seriously—make sure your Bluetooth isn't connected to the car speakers when you pull up to the elementary school. Learn from my near-mistakes.
