Wild Hearts

by Cordelia Kent

Some childhood crushes never fade—they just get dangerous.

Andi Loving has spent ten years running from the humiliation of throwing herself at Liam MacDermott on her eighteenth birthday. Now she's back home to help her injured mother, and the last thing she needs is to face her best friend's older brother who crushed her heart on her 18th birthday.

But when the rugged forest ranger catches her skinny-dipping in their old swimming hole, the explosive chemistry between them ignites like wildfire. Liam's controlled facade crumbles as he confesses the truth—he's wanted her just as desperately, but he's been protecting her from the beast inside him.

Now that beast is unleashed, and Liam won't be satisfied with just a taste. He wants to claim her completely, ruin her for any other man, and make her his in every way that matters.

Some wild hearts are meant to be tamed. Others are meant to run free together.

Contains a dominant mountain man with a decade of pent-up desire, a heroine who knows exactly what she wants, and enough steam to fog up every cabin window in the forest. HEA guaranteed.

103 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 25, 2025

About the author

Cordelia Kent writes evocative love stories where desire tells the truth. Her contemporary romances are known for their emotional intelligence and unapologetic heat: in her worlds sex is transformation, intimacy is courage, and every happily-ever-after starts with radical vulnerability. She lives in a storybook Tudor in Kansas City with her dreamboat husband, two small wonders, and a backyard full of bunnies.

Join her at www.cordeliakent.com for a free love story and more.

Reviews

[CoriEliza0301 · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️, 4.5🌶️ Different than the previous books in this series but just as good! Still a short, easy, great read like the previous books. However, this one isn’t lust/love at first sight & even when that lust develops, it is denied for years. So if you enjoy a more realistic/slower progression of a romance, you will like this one. Definitely more angst this time & it’s concentrated solely between the two MCs, Andi & Liam. While I’m not the biggest fan of this trope/type of romance storyline, it was presented in such a way that it was still a very enjoyable read for me. & the spice… whew! The spice wasn’t 0 to 100 straight out the gate which was also a change of pace compared to the previous books. But when it got to 100, it got there in the best way! A bit more on the dark side which I love! I always appreciate when a series changes it up rather than repeating the same things just with different MCs & Cordelia Kent is not disappointing!

📚I did receive an advance copy for free after begging Cordelia to let me read more after I finished the first two books in this series! All my reviews are made voluntarily & are my honest thoughts/opinions.📚

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This short book definitely brought on the heat! It is definitely my favorite book of the series so far! Andi is Liam’s sister Oona’s best friend. She has loved him since she was little and he has wanted her since her 18th birthday! He couldn’t hold back anymore when she returns home for Oona’s baby shower and the built up tension is finally released!

I loved everything about this book! The possessiveness, the yearning and the tension was hot!!! I love Liam’s dark side and how Andi was basically begging for him to unleash his beast on her.

Thank you to Cordelia Kent for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the best friend's brother angle here and that Andi and Liam had a history! My favorite of this series so far!

[The Honest Bookmark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, spicy, and engaging with just a tiny bit of “wait… what?” lingering in the background.

This was a pretty quick listen for me, just about an hour from start to finish, and honestly… I mostly loved it.

Liam and Andi were surprisingly well-developed for such a short story. That’s not something you always get in a novella, but their connection felt real, and I was invested in them pretty quickly. Liam has that intense, slightly dangerous energy, and Andi balances him in a way that just works.

Now let me talk about the one thing that threw me off a bit.

There are multiple mentions of this “beast” inside both of them. Liam talks about his like it’s something to be feared, and Andi has moments where it feels possessive, claiming him as “mine,” and she even responds with “ours.” And… that’s it. It’s never fully explained. No clear paranormal setup, no shifter context, nothing in the blurb either. It left me confused, like I missed a piece of the puzzle.

That said, the chemistry? Absolutely not lacking. The spice in this one was strong and very well done. It definitely brought the heat, and yes… I loved that.

The ending was satisfying, but I won’t lie, I wanted more. I would have loved to see a bit of their life after everything settled. Give me more of their relationship, maybe a glimpse into their future, just a little extra to sit with

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Childhood friends to lovers... YES PLEASE!

I think this book might have been my favourite out of them all so far.
Your books are amazing!! 🩷

[Alison Coak · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wild ride. If you love 2 hours of fun smut, this is your jam. I loved that the author was the main voice in the Audiobook… good for her. She had an amazing sound. I enjoyed this and think she is a super fun writer.

I look forward to more of her audiobooks!
5🌶️

[Jess Blanton · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is just something about these short stories!
They keep getting better!

I'm super amazed with how much information Cordelia Kent puts in a short story! Her storytelling is a true talent!

Wild Hearts is my favorite of this series so far.

I didn't even realize until this book that they are interconnected standalones.
I just thought they were a set of similar mountain men type stories
I read a lot of interconnected standalone series, and I don't care what anyone says, the stories are not complete if you don't read them all.
These are true standalones. It's really cool to see the connections between them, but it in no way affects the story you are reading.

[Sara Keeling · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Feral—he’s completely feral now, my skin a canvas for his insatiable exploration of lips and teeth and hands.”
-Andi

"She spoke my name like a devotional, like I hung the moon, like she would get on all fours and crawl
to me.
-Liam

This one was hands down my favorite of the series. I live for enemies-to-lovers, and this one crushed it. They've wanted each other since she was 18, but he refused her, and she didn't stick around for his reasoning. Ten years later? Forced back together. The anticipation, the frustration, the sheer spice-l was gasping, grinning and dying all at once.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella is my favorite so far in this series! It was definitely different from the first two. I loved getting more of the backstory of Liam and Andi than we got in the first two books. It was the perfect balance of past and present. It brought the spice with the age gap and dominant MMC. I really liked that there was more buildup to the spice in this book, and the extra surprise of getting recurrent characters from book 2. I can’t wait to see what the next book is all about!

[Stephanie Voice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice quick spicy/sweet read - love the connections to book 2! 🌶️ ❤️

[audiobookaddictnohely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild Hearts gave me that perfect mix of longing, tension, and “oh we were always meant to be” energy. Andi’s childhood wasn’t easy, and being taken in by the MacDermotts shaped everything including the way she loved Liam. Her crush never faded, even after he turned her down on her eighteenth birthday and she left town for ten years trying to outrun the heartbreak.
Liam, meanwhile, has been lying to himself forever. He keeps insisting she should feel like a sister, but the way Kyle Marquis narrates his internal struggle? Yeah… that man was gone for her a long time ago.
When Andi comes back, all that restraint snaps. He goes full caveman protective, possessive, kissing her like he’s been starving for a decade and it works. Their chemistry is intense, with hints of primal play, a little BDSM flavor, and a breeding kink woven in naturally.
Everyone around them clearly saw this coming, and honestly, the forest scene alone is worth the listen.

[Jennifer Sande · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPICY!! Wild Hearts is another great story from Cordelia Kent, and I loved returning to this world after Hot Blooded.

I really enjoyed the shared history between the two main characters and watching them find their way back to each other. There’s something so satisfying about second-chance energy mixed with unresolved tension. The added family dynamics and backstory gave the romance even more depth and made everything feel richer and more layered.

What stood out to me most was the care, understanding, and respect between the characters. Beneath all the heat (and yes—the spicy scenes are oh-so-spicy), there’s a sweetness to their connection that makes the story feel grounded and meaningful.

If you’re looking for a steamy romance with heart, history, and strong emotional undercurrents, I definitely recommend this one.

[Felecia Rodney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audio Review:
Duet Narration by Cordelia Kent and Kyle Marquis
4.5⭐

Tropes:
Best friend’s older brother
Childhood crush
Second chance
Small town

Andi returns home after years away, only to come face-to-face with Liam—the man who shattered her heart years ago. What follows is a rekindling filled with tension, buried feelings, and undeniable chemistry. This installment felt different from the first two books, and boy, I was intrigued lol—it took a deeper, more intense emotional route.

Cordelia Kent and Kyle Marquis were outstanding. They both delivered dynamic performances that elevated every scene. If you love angsty, steamy second chances with phenomenal audio delivery, this one is absolutely worth the listen.

[Destiny Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished the audiobook of Wild Hearts by Cordelia Kent and was completely pulled into Andi and Liam’s emotional, second-chance romance. He’s her best friend’s brother, and what begins as a longtime crush leads to a painful encounter on her 18th birthday that changes everything. The fallout sends her away for ten years, and when she finally comes back, all the unresolved hurt, tension, and chemistry rise straight to the surface. This story isn’t soft or slow—it’s intense, spicy, and unapologetically sexy, with real emotional weight behind it. For a short two-hour audiobook, it delivers angst, heat, and a satisfying reunion that kept me hooked the entire time.

[TomiAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short very spicy second chance romance. And it's very delicious 😋
Andy is a young lady who is in love with her best friends oldest brother Liam. She's been in love with him forever.
Liam is also in love her Andy but has put her on the off limits category for many reasons to which he believes matter.
Ten years after an "incident ", Andy comes home and after a bit Liam and her finally get their chance. And everyone and I mean Everyone is like FINALLY!!!! Me included.
I enjoyed the narration in the audio with Cordelia Kent and Kyle Marquis very sensual and very right for this kind of book.

[Petra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild Hearts is a little bit less sweet than the previous stories, but just as good and deliciously spicy!
Andi returns to her home town after more than a decade. When she runs into Liam, her crush from back then, who’s also het best friend’s older brother, the heat between them is unstoppable. It spirals from there.

This review is based on the audiobook, read in duet narration by Cordelia Kent and Kyle Marquis. Excellent performance!

I received an ALC from the author. This is my voluntary and honest opinion.

[Maria Gabrielle Naomi Orara Villanueva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I get It, really, when you sometimes don't want to listen anymore and living in your head. I appreciate Liam's effort in making Andi listen and I would want that for me too.

When CK told me about how she felt for this book, I went from there. And I liked this. I feel for this.

I just really wanted to add, however you don't like that negative part of you, it's good to know that someone, even just one person, will do.

[Jennifer Wycech · Rating 4 out of 5]

Duet narration - Cornelia Kent & Kyle Marquis
Fantastic narration.

Book #3 Matched on the Mountain Series

SPICYYYY! Holy moly. hot hot hot

Ok these characters are captivating and the narration is so good bringing this short story to life.

If you are looking for something extra spicy , but sweet and easy to listen to then I HIGHLY recommend this book and entire series. Fast paced and oh so yummy.

[Gayla Storz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild Hearts is so good! This book is fast paced and steamy like the other books but Andi, Liam’s sister’s best friend, has a crush on Liam since she was a child and he turned her down when she was 18. Now she’s all grown up and 10 years later and Liam thinks she should feel like a sister but she doesn’t. I love the duet narration read by Cordelia Kent and Kyle Marquis! Can’t wait for the next one.

[booksy.tx.ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, I liked this one more than Hot Blooded. Mainly because the characters have a past. Since it’s a novella and things move so quickly, it helps having a background to build on. Andi and Liam have a steamy reunion, and now they aren’t letting an age gap get in their way. This was quick but so enjoyable. If you like your reads with spice and a side of plot, this is for you.

Once again, no notes on the narrators. They did a splendid job.

Come read with me @booksy.tx.ana

[Samara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly this was SO good.
There was just enough back story to give me an idea of who the characters were. They held their own voice and their banter was great, I chuckled so many times during this story. The imagery Cordelia weaves into this book is beautiful and it makes me want to go pick up the other stories in this series.
The spice was deliciously detailed and well put together and very believable as well.
Enthusiastic 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Rachelle Whynott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This dark romance was a fun listen. I think this is my favorite in the series so far. The characters were fleshed out a bit and even though it’s a novella I was more invested because they had more of a backstory.

The narrators were fantastic! The author was the FMC and Kyle Marquis was the MMC and I thought they made the story. Wonderful to listen to.

I received this book as an ALC and am leaving my honest review

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decade of buried feelings and love mistaken for unrequited longing fueled every page of this story. What seemed like heartbreak was really years of denial, making the tension between them even more powerful. The MMC’s intense alpha presence paired with the MFC’s strong yet deeply wounded spirit created a chemistry that was impossible to ignore. Though short, this book delivered a raw, angsty punch packed with emotion and undeniable heat.

[Anj Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg, spice and hotness is off the charts! (6 stars pleaseeeee(

She’s always wanted him, he’s always wanted her… and that is palpable!

A daring pairing, and without even trying know what each other wants, the chemistry is nothing but sexy.

Also, again, let’s hear it for the narration of Cordelia and Kyle. 🥵

[QuinnReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firefly

While growing up, Liam MacDermott was supposed to be off-limits for Andromeda (Andi) Loving. As much as what happened when she was eighteen sucked, I do like how Una, Liam's sister, and the rest of the town encourages things between them as adults. I also like that his friends tease and rile him up about her.

Liam is crazy possessive. I sometimes like it, sometimes don't. He does make some missteps, but his correction tactics are on point. 🌶🥵

I do think there is a missed opportunity with the events surrounding Erin. I think that it needs to be explained further or not included, as it feels like an incomplete storyline.

I listened to the audio book. The narrators are Kyle Marquis and Cordelia Kent, the author. I like them. I like them even more like this in duet. 😀 🎧🧡🎧

Story: 3.5 stars
Narration: 4 stars
Listening Speed: 2.0x

H = 30s; h = 28

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andi was so humiliated by Liam on her 18th birthday, but i could see why Liam said no.
when these two encountered each other at the swimming hole, it ignited a fire between them. I loved their connection once those walls came down. these two were fire.
I loved the intensity between them. this was a really good and spicy read

[Latisha Gokey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was short and spicy I devored this
2nd chance
Sisters Best friend
We have andi and Liam she feel for home years ago after being turned down having to come back home to care for her mom she runs into him and feelings have come back after both of the truths for each other come boy do they.

This is erotic short and spicy 🔥🔥 🔥🔥 🔥

[Lena Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my honest ARC review.

We have a smutty little audio book here. This is fantastic for someone looking for a dirty listen without an intricate storyline to follow.
Personally, I’d give the spice a 2/5, as I’m used to dark romance, where the spice is super descriptive. However, this spice is “on page” and fairly heavy in relation to content vs story line. Readers enjoy! :)

[Shaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨Childhood Crush
✨Age Gap
✨Best Friends Brother
✨’Mine’
✨Spicy Novella
My favorite one in the series so far! Cordelia Kent and Kyle Marquis once again offer top tier narration to this wonderful, spicy series.

[syrenareads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild Hearts was a total wow for me. It’s a quick, steamy read that hits all the right spots, and I loved every minute of it. I listened to the audiobook, and the voice acting was fantastic. The duet narration pulled me straight into the story and made the whole experience even better.