Denim and Diamonds by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

Narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Andi Arndt

Standalone (for now) Contemporary Romance

Gifted Copy, but that never affects my review. This post contains affiliate links.

Denim and Diamonds by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward was so up my alley—a romance with comedy, banter, emotions, heat, and a twist that changes everything. I really enjoyed this one and honestly don’t know why I haven’t listened to every single one of their books yet.

February has her own multi-million-dollar handbag company and is living her dream designing handbags in New York City. But her whole life revolves around her job, and when she pushes herself too far, her company’s board of directors sends her on a mandatory wellness retreat in a small town in Maine.

Unable to sit still, February sneaks out one night to the local bar… and wakes up the next morning to a bizarre sight: a taxidermied moose head staring at her from the wall—and plenty of other mounted animal heads to match. She’s clearly not in Manhattan anymore. Brock grew up in this small Maine town. He’s a flannel-wearing lumberjack who owns half the businesses in town, including the bar where February got blackout drunk. Brock is such a genuinely good guy—he even does one good deed every day—and it’s impossible not to love him.

Despite being complete opposites, February and Brock have off-the-charts chemistry, and she finds herself sneaking out daily just to see him. February wants a casual fling while she’s there, but Brock is looking for more. How could it ever work, though? He’s rooted in Maine with his family and businesses, while she’s tied to her company in Manhattan.

As her one-month sabbatical nears its end, leaving Brock becomes harder to imagine. And just when things couldn’t get more complicated, a twist throws everything into question.

I loved how Denim and Diamonds didn’t rush their romance. The relationship built naturally, with banter, laughter, and plenty of emotional depth, making their love story believable and addictive. I devoured this book in a single day, ignoring all responsibilities.

Likes:

The banter!
His brothers—I hope they get books.
Such great chemistry right from the start.
They were both messy and real.
The pacing, humor, emotions, and steam blended perfectly.
Mature adults with good communication.
I loved the nicknames: “Red” and “Lumberjack.”

Dislikes:

I wish the mental health aspect had been explored more seriously or removed altogether, leaving it just as a wellness retreat.
I’m not sure he would have done for her what she did for him.

🎧 The Narration:

Teddy Hamilton and Andi Arndt. Need I say more? These two are legends, and their narration made the story even better.

The Down & Dirty:

Denim and Diamonds by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward is the kind of book that makes you want to escape to a cozy small town and fall in love with a rugged, flannel-wearing hero. It made me laugh, it made me tear up, and it flowed so naturally from start to finish. This is the kind of romance that feels like slipping into your favorite summer read—warm, funny, and effortlessly swoony. I’m crossing my fingers that Brock’s brothers each get their own story next because I’m not ready to leave this world.