A sweet hurt/comfort romance!💜

I would recommend you to read/listen to Regrets first before diving into this one, but it can also be enjoyed as a standalone as well.

I loved how Vivienne and Asher were each other's support systems after the loss they faced.
They helped eachother heal emotionally and had eachother's backs.

The characters were likeable and well fleshed out and the writing style was engaging and compelling.

Thurlow Holmes and Dash Coleman performed an amazing audio delivery and narration.

3 people found this helpful

Intense and unstoppable

First off I listened to this bk with my husband and I have to say we were both loving this story. Although the books can be read by themselves I think it helped that we listened to the first one before this.

I loved Viv and Ash's story from the first chapter I swear...okay that might be a bit of a stretch but seriously I just knew it was going to be epic And it did not disappoint. There are just so many different emotions you feel when you are listening to this story and I really feel that listening to the story allows you to fill the emotions a bit more than just reading. That might just be a personal thing though, I just feel like the narrator's really make you get lost in the story.

The narrator's themselves I thought did an amazing job bringing everything to life. There voices were a great match for the story.

I really can not wait to listen to more of these books and learn more about this family!

1 person found this helpful

Restrictions

Restrictions is the second book in The Sterlings series. This book is told from dual points of view from Asher and Vivienne. Asher is the younger brother of Linc whom was in the first book. He is the youngest of four siblings. We got to meet him in the first book. Vivenne also shows up in the first book with a baby from one of the other brothers.

Vivenne is a single mom and a college student. Asher asks to move in with her to help with his nephew and have a place to stay away from his newly married mother. Asher is struggling with life, because he has always been compared to his older brothers. One was the good boy, whom passed away from an accident. The other a bad boy.

As they are living together they have needs, but neither one want to be in a relationship. So they start sleeping together. Asher is having a hard time with his brother since he's not in a relationship with his dead brother's girlfriend. He feels that his brother and his girlfriend are forgetting about the brother that passed away.

Vivenne realizes she is in love with Asher, but he doesn't want a long term relationship, so they decide to stop fooling around and just be friends again. When they decide to just continue on with their friendship, Vivenne starts seeing Asher's friend, and Asher doesn't take it well. The book ends with Vivenne packing up her son and leaving to go stay with Asher's sister. What will happen next in Vivenne and Asher's story? Will they both get their happily ever after?

Overcoming Restrictions

“I’ve done things the right way, being the perfect girl for most of my life. I’m ready for a little wrong.” Review: This is book 2 in the Sterling series. It picks up right where book 1 left off, but now focuses on Asher. It ends on a cliffhanger. Nicole knows just how to pull on your heartstrings in the best way! Vivienne is a quiet single mom trying to go to college. Her life has not turned out the way she thought it would. Especially not the way her uptight parents planned it to be. After one night when she decided to "not be perfect" and live a little, her whole world changed. Asher is the youngest of the Sterlings and the one left to clean up the aftermath of what happened to his family. Finally deciding he has had enough and wants out. He doesn't believe in love or relationships and has no interest in them, only casual hook ups. Vivienne and Asher have gotten to know each other through Sebastian aka Baz. Asher is Baz' uncle and stepped in to be in his life. He absolutely adores Baz. Vivienne is living in a big house her parents bought her closer to the college campus and Asher wants out of his moms house. Asher suggests they become roommates and he'll help out with Baz. It's the perfect arrangement for both. Asher gets more time with Baz, out of his mom's house and closer to college. Vivenne gets help with Sebastian. Win win for the both of them. What could go wrong? There is an undeniable chemistry between these two, but Asher refuses to cross that line. After all, Vivenne was his brother's. Will Asher finally address the chemistry or will he continue to refuse and push Vivenne away. I fell for Asher so hard. It's always the funny and closed off ones that are the most broken and the most beautiful. I loved the relationship between each of the characters. Especially the relationship Asher and Baz have. I am dying to know how their story continues! I got to listen to this book on Audio by Dash Coleman and Thurlow Holmes, and oh my gosh I think I found my new audio boyfriend! Dash Coleman was THE perfect Asher. He gave a phenomenal performance catching the inflections, swearing and seduction. He nailed Asher. He was 100% believable and felt so real! I can't wait to listen to him again. Dash and Thurlow were new to be, but both did a fantastic job. Thurlow was a wonderful Vivenne!

Bittersweet and Steamy Love Story

Book 2 in the Sterling family series was so angsty and hot , mixed in with some really sweet moments. I am loving this series so much!! Ash and Viv have become close during the last 4 years since Vivian revealed her surprise child. Ash moves in with her to escape from his past and mom. They become an insta family, but both are too afraid to be vulnerable with each other. Attraction is irresistible, feelings are developed and heartbreak is inevitable, leaving us with the ultimate cliffhanger! I
was so excited to listen to Ash and Viv’s story but was left with bated breath waiting for their HEA. Can you say book hangover!? There are two more books in the series, until we get to see what happens with Viv and Ash. Other than that, this story was great! Forbidden romance, single mom, cute kid, tortured hero, strong female, lots of great chemistry and steamy scenes. I would definitely recommend this series, but wait until all books are on audio to get the full experience. Thurlow Holmes and Dash Coleman were perfect for Ash and Viv. This was first time listening to a book narrated by them and it was great!. Cant wait to listen to more!

100% angst with lots of steamy moments!

Restrictions is 100% angst with lots of steamy moments. It's book 2 in the Sterlings Series and follows Asher and Vivienne. If you have not read Regrets, I strongly recommend you read/listen to that one first.

Thurlow Holmes and Dash Coleman bring this book to life. Their voices capture the characters. Their tones are age-appropriate for these young adult characters while providing the perfect inflection for the life experience these two have gone through.
There were moments that the recording sounded robotic, which I believe is a result of the recording process and why I gave the performance 4 stars.

Asher is the youngest Sterling sibling who is struggling with the loss of his brother Colt. He holds a ton of resentment towards his siblings because he feels he was left to take care of his mother, leaving no time to grieve himself.

Vivienne is the mother of Sebastian (Baz), a precocious 4-year old boy and the son of Colt. Viv is working to create independence from her disapproving family.

Baz is the cutest kid ever! I don't think I would be able to say no to the little guy. Asher's love for him gives me all the feels.

It was easy to get lost in the story and how these characters were going to find their independence and to each other while dealing with their grief. Dykes writes such relatable characters that makes you feel their pain and growth as if you are living it yourself.

The ending is a shock but the next step their relationship needs.

I received a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Steamy and heartbreaking!

Confession! I read this book before book 1, however it stands TALL as a standalone BUT I highly recommend reading them in order. Have you ever felt gutted by a work of fiction? If your answer is no then proceed with caution. This book gutted me in he best way.

It's no secret the Sterling family is a complicated storm. If you don't know this you will learn immediately as you start to read/listen. Prepare to root for Viv who we get a quick glimpse of in book 1. You'll find yourself having you go girl and same sis moments throughout her character development. Ash is anoher part of the equation that you factor in to make this read passionate and heartbreaking. Now let's sprinkle in the adorable Bas and you have a constant tug on your heart strings feeling that will cause you to devour this read/listen.

We've all been there, the we know it's wrong but it feels sssooo right feeling! That is what this book will cause. Your heart will break for the Sterlings and their tragedy and pain. However you're gonna root for Viv and Ash despite the complexity of the situation. You'll fall in love with Bas and Ash's relationship and it will have you crying like a baby while on a road trip ( this was me) or whatever activity you're doing while reading! BUT more than anything it will make you RUN not walk to get the next book in the series! PS the narrators on this book did an amazing job.........I prefer this duo much more than book 1 narrators!

OMG

So to really understand this book, you need to read Regrets first as it is the foundation of the story. Asher has so much healing to do after his brother dies. Vivienne and Asher are there to help each other along the way but not in the way you expected, Nicole does an amazing job developing the characters and relationships. I don't want to give away any of the book but you need to read this book!

The Sterlings

Restrictions (The Sterlings # 2) is the story of the youngest Sterling brother Asher and should be listened in order. In book one we get the history of The Sterlings and the family roles. I was ecstatic to listen to book two as I fell in love with The Sterlings in book one. I love the arrangement and how everything flows through smoothly. The characters are compelling with flaws and complex characteristics. The characters continue to develop and grow as the story goes on. The plot is intriguing and the twists so heartbreaking. Absolutely loved listening from beginning to end and need so much more. To top it off a earthquake ending with a cliffhanger and the next audio which is Lola's isn't available yet but so worth the wait. I'm on pins and needles waiting for the next audio and continuation of Asher and Vivianne.

Dual naration of Thurlow Holmes, Dash Coleman was perfect. Thurlow articulates very well with a sweet tone. Dash's inflection is effortless and intoxicating. I love listening to these two narrate together as they brought the characters personalities out.

Cliffhanger

The narration was good. I enjoyed the male narrator’s voice. The female narrator’s voice was not my favorite, but the tone and pronunciation were well done. I would listen to both again.

The story is not one I would usually pick. However the characters and the story were so interesting. I wanted to keep listening to find out what happened next. Then the story took an unexpected turn and ended on a cliffhanger. I had no warning and was very disappointed. The follow up book is not available on audiobook. I might have given the story 4 stars, but the plot twist and jump 7 months into the future plus the cliffhanger bumped this story down to barely a 3/5 star for me.

I received a free copy of this audiobook and I am freely leaving my review.