5⭐️ 3🌶️ 5🎧

Well this is the biggest 🍆 tease I’ve ever read. I have never wanted a book to continue more! This has so much potential to become a full length novel and I would be first in line to read it!

Jason Clarke narrates all 20 glorious minutes and made me want so much more!

Thank you NetGalley and Leblon Publishing for the advanced copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Bartender’s Ballerina (Advanced Listener Copy)
Narrated by: Jason Clarke

Okay, wow. This was short but it packed a punch. I grabbed this audiobook from NetGalley specifically because Jason Clarke was narrating, and he did not disappoint. His voice? Immaculate. I honestly don’t think anyone else could’ve carried this story the way he did.

From the first few minutes, I was completely pulled into this strange, dystopian world where the main character holds magic he doesn’t want to use… but he’ll do anything for his ballerina. And when I say “anything,” I mean anything. It’s romantic, intense, and just a little bit tragic in the best way.

Even though it’s a quick listen, it gave me everything I needed and left me wanting more. It’s the perfect palate cleanser if you’ve just finished something super heavy. A little magic, a little heartbreak, a lot of voice perfection.

I’d absolutely listen to more stories in this world. And if Jason Clarke’s narrating? I’m already sold.

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op | Leblon Publishing, Blair Shadows, and NetGalley for the ALC of The Bartender's Ballerina.

This was a super quick, spicy, palate cleanser!

MMC is a bar owner in a corrupt, seedy town. He only stays... for her, the strong, alluring woman who gets him to use his magic even though he said he never would.

This quick story is suspenseful, sexy, and too short for my liking!

A spicy short story. I was really enjoying it and it ended so fast! I hope there are more installments to come!

Single narration - Jason Clarke

This was good and intriguing.
But too short I want more of their story.

Oh My Gosh! This has to be a taste of an upcoming book, right???
It's a novella but tiny, 20 minutes, and you get introduced to what sounds like a fascinating world and two intense characters. Just over half scene/world building, the rest spice, then that's it....the end.
I need more! It felt like a book teaser, and I'm so beyond hoping it is!
It's hard to rate because of that to be honest, as if this is literally it for this story, world, and characters, then it would probably be a three star. I don't see why any author would set up the world, go to the trouble of funding an audiobook and make it just 20 minutes if it's not more and maybe testing the waters for what people think! In which case sign me up for the full books ALC now, please 🤣!!!!
Either way, loved it and the narration by Jason Clarke was absolutely perfection, his voice 🔥!

Short and Hot.
There really isn’t so much to review other than it left me wanting a lot more!!

Jason Clarke did a wonderful job narrating 🤍

EXCUSE ME.......super rude that this is only a novella. And Jason Clarke narrating? Dear goodness! *wipes sweat*

I need more story please!

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for the amazing audio ARC!

Thanks, @NetGalley and the author for the advanced listen/read!

Wow, this is a short story that managed to pack a punch and get me intrigued, wanting for more.
We get snippets of Jax, the Bartender and Sisk, the Ballerina. He's a bartender with magical powers and she's the ballerina that keeps him in Tar City. He would have left it or destroyed it if not for her.

We only get to see them in one specific moment, when she arrives at his bar later he is expecting her to. And we get a very spicy and tension-filled encounter.

This short story is solo narrated by Jason Clarke and that in itself is a reason to download it. Boy, he delivers!

I really hope the author turns this into a full book. I am quite intrigued by the world of Tar City.

Paranormal Romance | Spicy Romance

With only a couple of pages, Blair M Shadows shows you a glimpse into the world of Tar City and tells you the story of a bartender desperate for a ballerina who can’t be tamed. The only good thing about this city is her and for that reason alone he will never leave.

This is meant to be nothing more than a taste of the author’s writing to see if there is enough interest for a full length novel and I say YES! The writing was beautiful - almost poetic, even. There is mystery and intrigue with a touch of magic surrounding the town and its characters , it left me dying to know more. The story was over before I was ready to put the book down and now I want to check out what else the author has written.

I received both an ARC and ALC from the publishers and was sad to find that the ALC only had the credits recorded. I was excited to listen to the story narrated by Jason Clarke from the bartender’s perspective but was unable to. Thankfully I was still able to experience the story since I also received the ARC.

The Bartender’s Ballerina by Blair M. Shadows was a quick, paced dark and spicy romance that demanded my attention. Jason Clarke’s deep, growly voice captured broody, dominant bar owner, Jax as he gave his full attention and self to his mysterious ballerina. This book is quick and sexy!

The Bartender’s Ballerina by Jason Clarke is a short, steamy story that surprised me with how much emotion it packed into such a quick read. What starts as a flirtatious encounter between a bartender and a ballerina turns into something more intense and heartfelt. It’s definitely on the spicy side, so if you enjoy romance with heat and genuine chemistry, this one delivers. What I liked most was how the author gave the characters real depth beneath all that tension. There’s a tenderness mixed in with the attraction that makes it feel more than just a quick hookup story. A fast, sultry, and surprisingly emotional read that’s perfect when you’re in the mood for something passionate but still meaningful.

I don't know if this story was written to be narrated by Jason Clarke or Jason Clarke was born to narrate it, but they definetely were made for each other. I listened to this audiobook twice, which I never normally do. It is beautifully written and wonderfully narrated.
For a very short story (it is just one scene), the author managed to pack a lot in. We get tantalizing glimpses of an intrigung world building that I'm dying to learn more about, interesting characters, and a rather unque relationship between them.
This story reads like a fantastic teaser to a larger world, and I hope there will be more of it at some point. I'm tempted to stalk the author for updates, which isn't something I normaly do either.

Audiobook Review

This better be the introduction to a new series or I will be well annoyed. I need more to Sisk and Jax’s story. This little snippet was so good!! I have so many questions I’m antsy for more!
Jason Clarke narrating is always a bonus in my “audiobook”

A very very short story giving a first glimps into the world of Tar City.

My thoughts:
I hope - HOPE, BEG and PLEAD - this is a prequel to a new book (series), because now it's just a tease of what could be.
The premise is good, the writing is great and the narration is chef's kiss.
I am not a big fan of single narration, but Jason Clarke's female impression is top-notch!

What you need to know:
⌛short story (26 pages, 22 minutes)
1️⃣single POV
🎙️single narration by Jason Clarke
🔮mystical romance (fantasy, magic)
🍻bartender with magical powers x ballerina🩰
🌶️spicy romance

This was a very quick, fun read. I thought it was a really interesting setup for a future book, there were so many intriguing details in this short story that I would love to see expanded upon. I thought the narrator fit the mmc perfectly!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC and eALC.

More please.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. I always try to do a thoughtful review with genuine opinions and feedback. If I get an audiobook, I try to have feedback regarding the narrator. But this book. The only thing rolling around in my brain is…more please.

Please turn this into a full book. Please expand. I liked the touch of magic. I loved the vibe of possible dystopia. More please.

The narrator is listed as Jason Clarke. Please do a full book…with Jason Clarke.

Thank you NetGalley for the listen (and read). Loved it. And I’d like more please.

✨ALC provided through NetGalley for a honest review✨

The Bartender’s Ballerina was a very short story about love and obsession. It’s dark, mysterious,spicy, and gritty with some magic thrown in. I know it’s a short story, but I wanted to know more about these characters. I want to know the backstory like how does the bartender have magic? What’s the history with the ballerina? How did they end up in this messed up city?I guess that makes a short story good. That you want to know more shows that the characters were interesting enough to question.

The audiobook was good and the narrator Jason Clarke was perfect with his deep, rough sounding voice. It gave the story this melodic feel as it progressed and you were surrounded by this dirty, magical, spicy moment between the two. If you want a short spicy quickie, you should check this out 👀

🎧Jason Clarke can take anything (even a meh short story) and elevate it.

This story felt like a really good prologue/spinet to hook you into a book. It gave just enough to make me question what was going to happen to our MC's and intro to the author's writing style. YET, it feels incomplete - especially not knowing if there is going to be an expanded story.

If it's a teaser 4⭐️ ... if it's a standalone [Shrugs] ... I did a quick look on the authors website and Instagram but couldn't find an answer - is there one?

A quick spicy story that would work well for an opener for something a little longer. Enjoyable great set up.

This is a spicy short story, too short to be a novella.

The length is problematic as a library collection addition and while spicy novella audiobooks (3-6 hrs) are frequently purchased, that is not the case for stories this short. Perhaps if it was part of a collection.

The audio narration was great. Good choice.

VERY quick novella - it’s about a 30 minute audio. It was REALLY GOOD. For something so short, the author managed to fit a lot of detail and set up into it!

The magical elements caught my attention. It’s definitely something that makes you imagine what happens to the characters afterwards.

Jason Clarke did a fantastic job as per usual.

3.5

I wasn't sure what to expect when I signed up for this ARC audiobook. I saw it was a short narrated by Jason Clarke (one of my favorite male narrators) so requested it. I'll admit, I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did.

Shadows manages to pack quite a bit of world-building and character background into less than 30 mins/26 pgs. I was impressed by how engrossing the setting was and would gladly read more about Jax, his magic, Sisk, and Tar City.

The spice was good in this, but I always prefer a bit more buildup with couples. Granted, considering the length, the balance between plot/character and spice was well done overall.

As usual, Jason Clarke did a phenomenal job narrating this. He's one of the few men who have a wonderfully deep voice and also manage not to make women's voices sound like a Monty Python sketch. Bravo.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing Co-op/Leblon Publishing for this ARC audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

✨📚Audiobook Review

The Bartender’s Ballerina by Blair M. Shadows
Narrated by Jason Clarke

Dark, Sexy, Spicy
OMG! Listening to this story is a whole new experience compared to reading it. I love this story so much more!

This was a 22 minute audio novella and it’s everything and more! I definitely recommend! Enjoy! 😘

#audiobookreview #thebartendersballerina #blairmshadows #netgalley #bookrecs #audiobookrecs #novella #spicybookrecs

OML! This was the perfect short spicy story! I wanted sooo much more! I was hooked from the first line, I didn't want it to be over.

Short quick read, spicy and mysterious. A grimy city, a bartender and a ballerina. Through in spice and magic and this book is a great in between when you just need a break after a long book but still want something to scratch that itch.

This is literally a teaser of a short story. My gasp and "that's it?!" that I screamed in my head when it ended. Bravo lol.

If this ever turns into a novel, I will be in line for it.

There was buildup and seduction and intensity. And then it slams the door in your face haha

It was good, the narrator makes the experience 10 times more enjoyable, it would be perfect with 50 pages more

The Bartender’s Ballerina is a dark, spicy, and magical short story about love, obsession, and mystery. The writing is vivid, and the steamy scenes are surprisingly well done for such a quick read. I’d love to see this story expanded into a full-length novel someday!

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing Co-op/Leblon Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

🩰 THE BARTENDER’S BALLERINA: A SHORT STORY 🩰
By: Blair Shadows
A Short Story

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5/5 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5 Spice Level
There is one open-door explicit scene.

The writing within this short-story is eloquent & moving… the storyline unique… wonderful things within the fantasy romance genre!

Favorite Quotes:
“She walks like she’s still on stage—spine straight, shoulders loose, every step a practiced rebellion. Like the world exists just to watch her move.”

&

“She doesn’t belong here… Not in Tar City. In my bar. In my f*cking orbit. But here she is anyway.”

Audiobook Review:
This short-story audiobook is approximately 20 minutes long and is available now for purchase. What sucked me in was finding out Jason Clarke was the narrator for this short story audiobook. He is hands down my favorite male audiobook narrator. His voice is very deep, sultry and gravelly, but he can also shift to a more feminine female voice flawlessly. His performance within this book is impeccable. 10/10, Highly recommend!!

Storyline, Plot, MC’s:
This story is a dark fantasy romance, MF, and is about a male bartender named Jax and a female ballerina named Sisk. There is considerable history & world-building for the city they live in, Tar City, a wretched and dangerous place.

We also begin to know the MC’s. With the POV being completely from Jax’s first-person perspective, he is who we learn the most about.

Jax is shown to have magical powers he is uneasy about having and using. He is definitely powerful yet restrained except where Sisk is concerned. He is quite smitten and possibly infatuated with her.

Sisk is quick to manipulate Jax with her words and her body, but it’s not known whether it is genuine or malicious in nature.

This story does feel like just a snippet of an amazing book. I do hope the author continues this storyline to make a full novel in this world and with these characters! Please do it! I will definitely read it!

Thank you:
Thank you Author Blair Shadows & Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this amazing short-story! I very much enjoyed it and hope to read and review more from y’all in the future! This review is genuine.

Happy Reading 🙂♥️

🎧 Audio and Ebook Review 📚

Narrated by Jason Clarke

I needed a little pallette cleanser and this was the ticket. It was short, spicy, mysterious and with Jason Clarkes voice in my ears, was just marvellous 👌

I need more of this, I do hope in the future the author will consider making this a full length novel as I'm definitely intrigued by both characters and the story itself.

The writing was very good, for a 30min audio and 20 page book it sucks you in right from the first line. I really enjoyed this ❤️

This is a smutty short story that leaves you wanting more. I wanted to know more about the bartender, about Tar City and about the magic that is only hinted at. If this was the preface of a longer book - it would definitely make me pick up the book (if only to sate my curiosity).

The only thing that threw me off was the buttons on a leotard. In my many years of ballet, I've never had buttons on a leotard before??

Thank you to the Author and netgalley for this ALC

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC!

The narrator’s voice makes your skin crawl, your insides melt, and your heart pound. Dangerous city with a nasty power, a magical and broody bartender, obsessively, possessively, lusting for a ballerina. Concern, care, and the pinnacle of satisfaction. Hoping to see a longer novel based on this concept.

This was a fun, steamy novella! I was approved for the arc by Victory Editing in exchange for my honest review. This was a fast read and it really packs a spicy punch! Don't miss this one if you want a little spicy story! I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope to read more by this author!

I need more. This story was way too short—it left me wanting so much more of this world and these characters. It wasn’t sweet (at all), but it had that gritty, emotional pull that totally worked.

The whole vibe gave me Sin City energy—dark, moody, a little dangerous—and I was so here for it. The angsty, magical bartender and his little ballerina in this tar-coated city? That combination deserves a full-length story. There’s just so much potential here that I hope Blair M. Shadows dives back into it.

Jason M. Clark’s narration fit the tone perfectly—deep, rough-edged, and full of emotion. I could listen to him as this character for hours.

Please, more of them. More of Sisq. More of him. Thank you.

Such a tease! I hope, I beg, this becomes a full length novel! For being a novella, it delivers an impressive amount of atmosphere and tension. Blair Shadows creates a gritty, magical world that pulls you in instantly. Tar City feels alive, dangerous, and strangely alluring. The chemistry between Jax and Sisk is hot, and I loved the mix of romance, magic, and bad decisions wrapped into such a quick read.

Oh, and hello?! Jason Clarke narrating? Yes, yes, yes! His performance adds so much to the experience. His voice fits Jax perfectly, giving the story weight, grit, and emotion that makes the world feel even more immersive.

It’s short, moody, and memorable - a bite-sized story that leaves you pleading for more from Tar City. A really enjoyable read (and listen!), and I’m extremely grateful for the ARC and ALC.

I was wishing and wishing this was going to be a full length book! The story line and the Ballerinas character were devine.
That broody grump sunshine for her MMC .
I am begging Blair Shadows to make this into a full length novel.
3/5 stars because it was short and legit left me screaming for more.

I’m hoping this is just a small part of something bigger because I NEED more. This short scene was hot and spicy. I want to know more about Tar City and the magic that he’s reluctant to use. It appears as if the city of dangerous! This is definitely the start of an amazing Urban Fantasy book! Jason Clarke’s narration only escalated the already amazing writing of this story. I received this audiobook from Leblon Publishing and Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

WOW, Just WOW. The shortest ARCH I've read to date. But with Jason Clarke narrating, it was worth the Listen. I want to know what happens next. Please tell me this is a teaser., and there is more to come.

A great quickie, and a compelling introduction into something that could well be a longer book.
The Bartender's Ballerina was a hot and interesting erotic short story about Jax, the bartender, and the rules he swears never to break. Until her.
This had great potential to turn into something longer. I was interested in both Jax and Sisk. This is quite an accomplishment for such a short story and shows the sign of a good writer.
The cover design is beautiful. It shows that this is going to be a romance, but it's sophisticated and lovely. It is what originally drew me to listening to this.
The narrator was 🥵🔥 - His deep voice was perfect for Jax, and his little high notes on Sisk's voice worked really well.
I recommend this to anyone that wants something quick. 20minutes isn't much, but it's well worth it.
Review posted on Goodreads, and later Youtube and Instagram.
Thank you to Netgalley and Leblon Publishing for the ALC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was far too short, and I am going to need more. STAT!
The narrator is a favorite to us all, and can literally do no wrong, and the storyline was hot! I’d be down with an extended version anytime!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the audio!

So upset with how short this was! I really loved this short story. I a definitely see it becoming a full length novel I wanted to know more about the tw characters specially with how protective and possessive the MC is of the Ballerina. Need more of this!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for access to the Audiobook version of Blair Shadows' "The Bartender's Ballerina" narrated by Jason Clarke. This sultry short story had me wanting more. Let's be honest, anything narrated by Jason Clarke could get even the holiest of monks going. If you need to be left a sweaty open-mouthed mess, this one is for you. 5 peppers is not nearly enough.

This is a very short read, but it dives right in. There’s a lot of mystery surrounding both the characters and the city they’re in, and while it leaves many questions unanswered, I think that’s intentional. The MMC is clearly obsessed, and I expected the FMC to be meek and mild, but she definitely wasn’t.

It’s a spicy little novella, but I do wish we had more information into the characters’ backgrounds.

This was a quick and spicy palette cleanser that left me wanting more. At the end, I was shocked that I was done listening! I would love to read more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Leblon Publishing for the opportunity to listen to an Advance Listener Copy (ALC) in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

Quick read spice could not stop reading. Listening to the mmc tell us how he would burn the world down for his fmc chefs kiss!

The Bartender’s Ballerina was the perfect short, spicy palette cleanser. Being just around 20 minutes for the audiobook, I wasn’t expecting a lot out of the story, but boy was I wrong! Jason Clarke does a great job with his narration. I think his deep voice really added another layer of darkness and intrigue to the story. I really appreciated that we were in Jax’s head, since a lot of the time in these types of stories, we are in the female’s head. I desperately need this to be a longer story because I was so intrigued by the town, Jax, and Sisk. I really enjoyed Blair M. Shadows’ writing style and saw that she has a series, so I will definitely be checking out more of her work.

Excellent short short short story about one brief but oh so spicy encounter. Adult content.Not for young readers.

ALC Review:

The Bartender’s Ballerina is a short, sharp, gorgeously written story that blends romance and magic in a way that feels both dangerous and irresistible. Jax and Sisk have the kind of tension that grabs you immediately, and Tar City itself feels like its own haunting character. Jason Clarke’s narration elevated the entire experience—if he’s involved, it’s always a yes from me. I loved the writing style and the moodiness of the world. Truly hoping this becomes a full novel because I would absolutely read it.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the author for this ALC.

Book Rating 5/5
Audiobook 5/5

What can all be said about a 22 minute audiobook?
A lot but I’ll keep it short.

I read this short previously and really enjoyed it, but listening to it elevated it to a new level.

Jason’s narration was like a warm embrace of darkness and obsession coiling around me. And settling deep in my soul. He brought the bartender to life.

It was enchanting, sinful, and hauntingly beautiful.
Pure bliss!

I’m obsessed 🖤

Dark, Sexy, Spicy!
Listening to this story is a whole new experience compared to reading it. I love this story so much more!
The Bartender’s Ballerina by Blair M. Shadows is an amazing short story that leaves you begging for more! I really hope the author turns this into a full book. I am quite intrigued by the world of Tar City.

This was an intriguing short story. There's Jax, the MMC, that has some possessive traits. You also have Sisk, the MFC, who's presumably beautiful (I imagining since she's a ballerina) and she exudes confidence. Then throw in some, magic, lust, and spice. That's a recipe for a good book. I truly hope Blair Shadows makes this into a full novel. I NEED to know more about Tar City, Sisk, and Jax. Finger's crossed the full book is available soon.
#netgallery #blairshadows

I thought the book/short story was absolute fire, but Jason Clarke's solo narration? Sign me up for the rest.

Was this a quickie audiobook? Yes. Was it absolutely hot? Absolutely! This man’s voice was definitely pleasing to the ears. For this being a short story it was definitely written very well. I didn’t feel lost at all. And holy spicy! I may need an ice shower after that!

The Bartender’s Ballerina by Blair M. Shadows is a dark, spicy, and magical short story about love, obsession, and mystery.

I was able to immersive read this while on my lunch break and it did not dissapoint!

The writing is vivid, and the steamy scenes are executed well for such a quick read. I was surprised with how I would become enthralled into the story even though knowing before starting it that it was a novella. I’d love to see this story explored and made into a full-length novel someday!

The possibilities for this becoming a full length book are endless. This short leaves you wondering and wanting more. For starters it leaves you questioning - how does the town become such a mess? - how did the bartender acquire this magic? -what's the ballerina's story?

Shadows manages to excel in world-building and character background into this short read( 26pgs). I was impressed by how engrossing the setting was and would gladly read more about Jax, his magic, Sisk, and Tar City.

The spice was good although I always prefer a bit more buildup with couples ( slow burn/ enemies to lovers/ tension and yearning lover here!) However, considering the length of the novella and the subject at hand, the balance between plot, character, and spice was well done.

Jason Clarke did a phenomenal job narrating this. He's has a deliciously deep and rough voice that audiobook readers just eat up!

If you want a palette cleanser, a read while driving to work or home, or just a naughty spicy quickie anywhere, then give this a read/ listen.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing Co-op/Leblon Publishing for the ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review.