Just This Once by Lena Hendrix

Narrated by Aiden Snow and Samantha Summers

Contemporary Small-Town Romance | Book 1 in the King Family Series (connected to the Sullivan Family series)

I picked up Just This Once by Lena Hendrix without realizing it’s set in the same world as The Sullivan Family series, and I really wish I’d known that going in. The Kings and Sullivans have a long-standing family feud that everyone in town seems caught up in, and I felt like I missed some history that would’ve made everything click more. It worked fine as a standalone, but I’d definitely recommend reading the Sullivan series first—it would’ve made this one even better.

After a humiliating Valentine’s Day breakup, Emily heads back home to regroup. What she doesn’t expect is Whip King—a tattooed, pierced, too-hot-for-his-own-good firefighter who just so happens to work for her dad, the fire chief (which she finds out after the hottest night of her life). Their chemistry is instant and impossible to ignore, and what’s meant to be a “just this once” one-night stand quickly turns into something much more complicated.

“How did I make you feel?”
“Like I’d burn down my entire world just to have you.”

Whip was the perfect mix of cocky and sweet—rough around the edges but with a soft heart underneath all that bravado. Emily, meanwhile, is trying to figure out who she is outside of everyone’s expectations. Together, they just work. The small-town gossip, family drama, and sizzling connection made for a fun and spicy read that felt like the start of a series I’ll want to continue.

“You’re my safe place, Prim.”

Likes:

Whip. Cocky, pierced (you know what I mean), confident, and secretly soft.
Emily’s growth from rule-follower to risk-taker.
The forbidden, boss’s-daughter tension.
The small-town setting that felt real and full of history.
The setup for future King Family books.

Dislikes:

I felt like I missed background from the Sullivan series that would’ve added more depth.
Some family drama threads were left hanging.
The third-act conflict felt unnecessary.

The Narration:

Aiden Snow and Samantha Summers were both great choices for this story. Aiden brought Whip’s confidence and charm to life while still letting the emotion show through, and Samantha captured Emily’s vulnerability and determination perfectly. Their voices complemented each other so well, and the pacing made it easy to stay invested from start to finish.

The Down & Dirty:

Just This Once by Lena Hendrix is a sexy, small-town, forbidden romance that balances humor, tension, and heart. Emily and Whip’s chemistry is explosive, and even though I wished I’d read the Sullivan books first to get the full scope of the family feud, I still enjoyed every minute. If you like firefighter heroes, small-town gossip, and stories where “just this once” turns into “forever,” this one’s for you.