Let’s talk about the AUDIOBOOK first, because OH. MY. GOODNESS.

Connor Crais and Desireé Ketchum were PURE PERFECTION.

Connor as Evan was deliciously swoon-worthy. His voice is deep, smooth, seductive and just the right amount of naughty. He didn’t just narrate Evan…he became him.

And Desireé was equally phenomenal as Chloe, capturing her warmth, sunshine personality, loving heart, vulnerability and hope so beautifully.

Together, their chemistry made this audiobook an experience. I wasn’t simply listening…I was completely immersed in Evan and Chloe’s world. I smiled, swooned, melted, held my breath and absolutely did not want it to end.

Some romances make you smile. Some make you swoon. And then there are the rare ones that find their way beneath your skin and straight into your heart.

This was that romance for me.

When I say I loved EVERYTHING about Evan and Chloe’s story, I mean it to the depths of my soul.

Evan Ricci is the kind of man you simply cannot resist. Rugged, handsome, cocky, protective and an absolutely incredible father. The way he loves his daughter, Effy, melted my heart. He would give her the moon if he could, but even all that love can’t erase the hurt she feels every time her mother comes into her life and then leaves again. And let me just say…I REALLY didn’t like that woman.

Then there’s Chloe. Her love for Evan shines through even when he doesn’t see it. She returns home to care for her mother while dealing with her own complicated relationship with her father and sorting through the memories and emotions of her past.

Never in a million years did she expect to end up living with the boy she fell in love with years ago…the boy who once lived with her family and his sweet daughter.

The tension? INSANE.

The chemistry? OFF THE CHARTS.

The spice? HOLY MOLY!

But what made this romance so special was the history between them, the vulnerability, the wounds and the love that somehow survived all those years.

And The Challenge? I LOVED it. What started as a game became a beautiful way for Evan and Chloe to confront their fears, push each other, and become better versions of themselves. Those pink sticky notes had me completely captivated, especially toward the end. No spoilers…you need to experience that for yourself!

And Stray Dog…my heart. The meaning behind it was incredibly touching and hit me straight in the feels.

Penelope Ward, created something truly breathtaking. She gave me a romance filled with heart, humor, healing, second chances, unforgettable characters and enough chemistry to set the pages…and my headphones…on fire.

I loved Evan.

I loved Chloe.

I loved Effy.

I loved The Challenge.

I loved those pink sticky notes.

And I loved the beautiful meaning behind Stray Dog.

This is a romance you don’t just read. You FEEL it.

This book? A MUST READ.

And the audiobook?

YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT MISS IT.

Penelope Ward has done it again! The Challenge is a heartfelt and emotional romance filled with second chances, forced proximity, and an irresistible single dad. Chloe, Evan, and Effie made such a lovable found family, and I was completely invested in their journey. There was just the right mix of chemistry, angst, and sweet moments to keep me turning the pages. If you enjoy emotional romances with unforgettable characters, this is definitely one to read!

Another smash hit from Penelope Ward! Every book she writes is heartfelt, emotional and there’s always some kind of twist in the book to keep us on our toes. This book was no different! I loved this story. Could many of the roadblocks been solved faster if there had been clear communication?! Absolutely. But where’s the fun in that?! Haha Evan is top notch forbidden spank bank material😏, and he earned his HEA with Chloe tenfold. Go read this book now! Perfect for fans of single dad, forbidden, emotional, & angsty romance.

I kicked my feet in excitement once I started to learn about Chloe and Evan the past they shared. From that moment on I knew this book would hook me. I could not wait to see how the relationship would unfold for these two.

This is one of the special books. The one that pulls at the heartstrings and lives in your head long after you read it. This one will always be special to me. The other reason this one is special is because the audio with this book brings out the emotions even more. Connor and Desiree' bring out Evan and Chloe's story so beautifully. They capture the book, the characters and the feel of the book so well that you forget what's going on around you. I have been hooked on this audio for a couple days and now I'm sad that I finished it. It's seriously that good!!

This story is about best friends who never brought up how they felt but showed it by actions. Unfortunately neither had clue that was happening until it was on video. One is scared cause he's been burnt before and lost so much in life. He has his career and beautiful daughter. He thought he was happy but never let Chloe stray from his mind.

Chloe moved to Chicago for school and then her job. When her mom got sick, fate stepped in and gave these two a second chance.

This book will have you feeling so many emotions, cause my heart went thru the ringer but it was all worth it to see their beautiful ending. I would highly encourage you to read this and listen to the audio. It's very well done.

This was my for my book of Penelope ward that I read and I loved every bit of it..thank you for writing such beautiful stories.

I just love Penelope’s writing. From the minute I picked up this book I was hooked till the end. Such a lovely story seriously didn’t want it to end.

Childhood friends, love unrequited, steamy attraction - it's all here and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! Even the challenging return of an ex wife is put in its place (or is it?) Loved this - one of the best romances I've read in a while. 💗💗💗

OMG, this book. This book is a fantastic read. It will grab you from the first page and keep you reading no matter what happens. You will not be able to put it down. It moves along at apace that is just perfect for the flow of the story and speeds up and slows down as needed. The characters are so real that you feel as though you know them and no matter what you will love them. This is a book that has to be read, you will not be sorry that you did. So read it now, its a must read.