Lucky Number Eleven

By: Adriana Locke

Narrated by: Kai Kennicott, Wen Ross

Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

I’ve always been the person that does whatever someone tells me I can’t.

Can’t graduate with a four-point-oh? Check. Can’t win a modeling contract without trying? Did it. Check. Can’t make it in the pro football league? Triple check with an MVP Award on top.

When my best friend told me to stay away from his little sister, Layla, it didn’t sound like a challenge. Then again, I’d never seen her before.

He obviously wasn’t thinking about who he was talking to if he believed I could ignore her. I obviously wasn’t thinking of him at all when I fell in love with her either. Fact of the matter is: I not only fell harder than a quarterback sack on a Sunday night game, but I did us one better. Kind of like that MVP award, only not so shiny. Sort of like my Player of the Year title, except the only thing I’m walking away with is an ex-best friend and a woman that hates my guts.

It’s okay. Just tell me I can’t win her back.

I’m Branch “Lucky” Best, and today’s my lucky day.

This is a standalone romance.

©2017 Adriana Locke (P)2017 Adriana Locke

Super sweet, sexy and funny!

Omg!! I loved this super sweet, sexy, funny read!!
Layla has had it with dating football players!! She still in a funk after her recent break up with Quarterback Callum Worthington after he was busted cheating on her. She decides a road trip to her family lake house with her bestie Poppy is exactly what she needs!!
She doesn't expect for her brother, Finn, to be there with his super hot friend and teammate Branch Best. Finn let Branch now right away that his sister is strictly off limits!!
After endless flirting between Layla and Branch for the last couple of days, Finn and Poppy end up leaving for a trip to town. One thing leads to another and things end up getting hot and heavy between Layla and Branch. Layla knows not to get attached because Branch was upfront about how he never gets in relationships because of the schedule involved with playing football. She can definitely handle having a weekend fling. Plus, she's over dating football players!! Things get crazy when Finn finds out amongst other surprises!! I loved this fast paced read!! I could get enough!! Branch Best is definitely the best!!
I received an early copy and voluntarily left my honest review.

* update. I already read and loved this and when I was offered a free copy of the audiobook I couldn’t wait to listen to it! The narrators did an awesome job and I loved it a second time around! I’m voluntarily leaving my honest review.

4.5 Get Branched Stars!!

Just like I said when I read the eBook version of this book Ms.Locke's novels always feel like I'm going home again and it's the same with this audio book!! Such a fantastic feeling!! This story was even more of a great experience this time around and going back into this world again thrilled me. I absolutely loved Kai and Wen's narration!! They really made Layla and Branch come to life and shine in a new way for me. They are such an epic narrating duo!!

Branch still frustrated me but I couldn't help but fall for him all over again this time around. I adored Layla too!! If possible I went through even more emotions while listening to it.

Lucky Number Eleven was one of the most fun listens of 2017 for me!! This is definitely one I'll go back and re-listen to in the near future!! (:

Branch and Layla 4.5⭐️

This book is why Adriana Locke will always be one of my favorite authors. On the surface, this is a story I would normally avoid. Branch is the quintessential professional athlete and embraces all the stereotypes that go along with it.

But…he’s so much more. He’s still cocky and arrogant but he’s also playful and endearing and out of his mind for Layla. He’s blissfully - human - and glorious in all his flaws.

‘I want to kiss her, take my time and adore her.’

Their relationship is unconventional but it’s so perfect. I loved the dynamic created by their dominate personalities and the constant push-pull between them.

More than all of that, Adriana Locke is the queen of making you feel at home in the pages of her book. I fell in love with the backdrop of this story as Branch and Layla fell in love with each other.

My Two Pennies

Kai and Wen have knocked it out of the park with their narration duo, I love the passion and intensity they put into every story. This is a great sports romance story that will have you cheering Branch on throughout the story. Layla has had a past that she doesn’t want to repeat again and is cautious when it comes to dating anyone else now. We’re given twists and turns that will keep you on your toes and swooning at times too. Absolutely LOVED the ending that we were given, happy tears all the way.

Coffee Cake and Curveballs

"Life is timed to a watch we don't control. Things happen today to set up things later that we can't predict or see or imagine. Don't fight it. Embrace it."

If Layla Miller knows one thing about pro football players, she knows that they're, well, players. Layla's learned that lesson, both from her brother Finn and his friends, and from personal experience. It's been demonstrated time and again that, off the field, it's no holds barred.

When Layla meets Branch "Lucky" Best, she's determined not to make the same mistake again, the one that's all fun and games until it's not. And, Branch? He's all about the good time, and Layla is at the top of his list for good times, best friend's sister or not.

There's not a book that Adriana Locke has written that I don't love, and part of what makes her a favorite is that she writes so many different kinds of books. From angsty, heartbreaking reads (that'd be SACRIFICE) to a series of Southern boys that each own a piece of my heart (that's you, Landrys), Addy truly has something for everyone. LUCKY NUMBER ELEVEN, Addy's addition to the Exposé series, is all things sexy and sweet, with moments of pure philosophy mixed in.

The thing about Adriana's books is, there are layers. Branch could be just another football god, all swagger and pheromones, but that's not the sum total of who he is. It takes life throwing a monster of a curveball (sorry, I'm mixing sports metaphors, but...) in the form of one Layla James Miller to show Branch just what's important, and Addy does a wonderful job of helping him shine.

Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of steam, sizzle, and sexy times for our Lucky Number Eleven and his lady. But the humor, the life lessons, and the way that they navigate those unexpected detours really made this book such an enjoyable listen for me, along with the perfect characterization by narrators Kai Kennicott and Wen Ross. LUCKY NUMBER ELEVEN is an easy 4.5 'coffee cake and curveballs' stars for me, and perfect for fans of contemporary romance with plenty of swoony, sexy, heartwarming moments.

Wonderful Story!

What emotion that was shown in this story. Wen and Kai pulled everyone out of me. I loved it!

Hot Hot Hot read must have! Touchdown!

*Expose*
Well here you have it again, Football Season is underway & another TOUCHDOWN read from Adriana Locke! Nothing can get any better than this! This is definitely a 7 point and the winning game read with a definite 5 star story Victory! With characters such as Branch Best, Layla James Miller, Finn Miller & Poppy Quinn they are the best! This foursome is hot, Funny, quick witted with great banter between them all. This book consumed me from page one till the very end and I so didn't want it to end. This book has a few cameos of other amazing characters from Locke's other books, if you know who they are. I love how real the feelings and emotions are portrayed in the book based on the situation at hand and how Adriana pulls you in and makes you feel everything & everyone of the feeling the characters feels & maybe just a bit more to. This book is full of all the feelers but for the most part it's a light, care-free read. Lots of humor between the four of them, great friendships and definitely strong willed women who definitely & completely complement the men. I know that this book is more about Branch and Layla but Poppy and Flynn are just as important I feel. I would love to have more in the future from these amazing four and hopefully we will. Thank you for another smoking hot & sweet read!

*Expose is a series where each book are standalones in the series *

Intertwined

I love how most of the books are all intertwined in little ways with the Gibson’s and the Landry’s.

Ready to get Lucky!

This was the perfect sweet and sexy listen! Even though I have previously read Lucky Number Eleven, listening to the audiobook took it to a whole new level! I am a huge fan of Adriana Locke's books and this one had all the witty banter and heart that I love so much. The chemistry between Branch and Layla was scorching and I loved all of their back and forth innuendo and ribbing. Even though the start of their involvement is based on lust and sexual attraction, their actual romance is gradual and organic. There is a bump in the road and the inevitable push and pull, but it works because these characters actually grow to care about each other and you're invested in their relationship. The secondary characters, especially Poppy, were such a fun treat. She has no filter and will tell you how it is, but at the same time she is supportive and fiercely loyal. I really hope that we get her (and Finn's) story one day.

Kai Kennicott and Wen Ross were fantastic as always and flow together so perfectly. They complement each other so well and are one of my very favorite narrating duos. Wen couldn't have performed Branch any better! You really don't want to miss your chance to get lucky!

Story: 3.5 Stars - Narration: 5 Stars

It’s only recently that I’ve been hooked on books by Adriana Locke – yeah, I know, what rock did I live under? -, but ever since I jump at every opportunity to read or listen to her works. And LUCKY NUMBER ELEVEN just further proves my point: Her writing is beautiful, the storylines deep, poignant, her characters sexy and delightful.

This one is a lighthearted sports romance and part of the Exposé series but can be read as standalone. And though it’s funny and had me truly laughing a time or two, I refuse to call it a comedy, because many comedies are just plain and flat and lack substance. A book being described as a comedy usually is a guarantee for me to steer clear of it, because, just … no. I need all the feels in a romance – and this one does not lack in that department!
And, oh, it’s set in the world of the Gibson brothers. Sigh.

Layla Miller and Branch Best were not supposed to happen. Branch is a MVP football player, and Layla already had her fair share of disappointments with those, so she swore off athletes. Also he was outright warned off by his best friend Finn to stay away from his little sister to not become another notch in his belt…

But, of course, chemistry has other plans – and of that these two have in spades. It doesn’t take them long to shuck the ‘off-limits’ warning and get down and dirty… And that’s when fate interferes again, the story taking a direction I didn’t see coming…

The playfulness, the banter, the passion, the unexpected twist – and the secondary love story of Layla’s brother Finn and her best friend Poppy, who I both adored – all of that makes for one sweet and heartfelt read.

I went with the audio book version, which I also highly recommend. Kai Kennicott and Wen Ross are perfection when it comes to duet narration. How they complement each other’s narrative is amazing. And I just love how they bring in little nuances such as laughing and sighing as well – even the screaming of a character seems real, which I’ve hardly heard before. I loved hearing them giving all the characters their own voices in such a beautiful emotional way.