Audiobook Review - Mister Moneybags by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward • Ana's Attic Book Blog

Mister Moneybags by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

Narrated by Sebastian York and Andi Arndt

Standalone angsty romantic comedy

I really love the writing duo of Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland. Mister Moneybags was all that I expected and more. This was an interesting story in that I hate what he did at the start, but I kind of understand why he did it and enjoyed the situation he was in. Instead of doing a little recap, I am just going to post the blurb here so you know what I’m talking about:

I met Bianca in an elevator.
She was on her way to interview me when we got stuck.
The beautiful, raven-haired reporter assumed I was a delivery guy because of the way I was dressed.
She had no clue I was really Dex Truitt, the wealthy, successful businessman she’d dubbed “Mister Moneybags”—her afternoon appointment.
Bianca told me how much she hated Dex’s type—snobby, over educated, silver- spooned men who didn’t appreciate the simple things in life.
So, after the elevator finally started moving again, I cancelled the interview and let her believe I was someone I wasn’t—a bike messenger named Jay. I loved the way she looked at the fake me and didn’t want it to end.
I began dating her as “Jay”—all the while letting her interview the real me over email.
I didn’t expect that our chemistry online would be just as hot.
I didn’t expect the mess I’d gotten myself into.
I didn’t expect that Jay and Dex would fall in love with her.
And she was falling for two men.
Only, both men were me.
And when she found out, we were both going to lose her.
Nothing could have prepared me for that day. And I certainly wasn’t prepared for what came after.
All good things must come to an end, right?
Except our ending was one I didn’t see coming.

I was giggling right away, even as I felt the connection. They were stuck in a dark elevator and she is claustrophobic, so the banter started right up.

“It’s a technique I use to fend off the panic — screaming at the top of my lungs.”
“That’s the best technique you have?”
“I have a few different techniques. I can also massage my balls.”
(…)
“Shit, where are they?”
He chuckled. “I have some balls you could massage if you’re in a pickle.”

Although I didn’t like that Dex misled her, I kind of got it. I mean she clearly had her mind made up about him and he was never going to get a chance with her if she found out who he was right away. And the pains Dex went to to hide his secret identity made me giggle.

Great. Just fucking great. After I rode my bicycle back to my multi-million dollar company, I was going to have to learn how to whittle.

The whole messed up triangle-but-not-a-triangle was fun to read about. You couldn’t help but wonder how the fuck he was gonna get out of the hole he kept digging.

But then the book had a twist that I didn’t really love. It felt a bit over-the top and soap opera-ish. It was fun, but felt like it was a bit of manufactured drama that wasn’t necessary since I thought the initial concept was enough of a story to expand on. It was almost like 2 books in one. Still I really enjoyed this read a lot, but the first half was my favorite.

Likes:

Unique and fun concept.
Loved the banter.
Quick and fun read.
Great chemistry.
The dog <3.
The lengths he went to hide his lies.
I enjoyed both main characters.
The epilogue.

Dislikes:

I thought the twist wasn’t necessary and took away from the romance I was enjoying. I didn’t dislike it but didn’t love it either.
Felt like it could have been a bit hotter (or maybe I just need that when SebYo is reading)

The Narration:

The power duo go Sebastian York and Andi Arndt are always amazing. I wouldn’t mind hearing different narrators for a change, but I have no complaints.

The Down & Dirty:

Mister Moneybags was a fun and sexy, twisty turny, angsty romance that I enjoyed from the opening lines. I really loved the whole book, but the beginning concept of pretending to be someone else I really loved the most. It was about getting rid of preconceived notions and not judging a book by it’s cover. I loved watching Dex dig himself deeper and deeper into his web of lies, even though he meant well. There was a huge twist that added a TON of angst that I thought kind of took away from the the initial crux of the book, and although I enjoyed reading it, I enjoyed the first half before the twist much better. It almost felt like two totally separate books. Still I loved the writing, I was sucked in completely and needed to know what would happen! I look forward to their next collaboration!