He Knows When You’re Awake: A Naughty or Nice Novel by Alta Hensley

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Stalking in a winter wonderland… 

Jewelry designer Sloane dreams of launching her own custom line—but she needs a Christmas miracle to pull it off. With traditional banks turning her down left and right, she can’t resist when a mysterious stranger offers her a lifeline.

I see what she creates in those stolen moments when she thinks no one’s watching. I see everything. There’s a darkness at her core and I will unravel her until I find it. 

Reclusive billionaire Cole Asher offers to fly Sloane out to an ultra-luxurious Swiss resort for a meeting. Reluctantly, she agrees—only to realize she’s met him once before in a New York bar.

She is crucial to my plans, and I need her close. She insists that we keep things professional, and I comply. But soon she will realize that every line is blurred when it comes to her and me. 

Cole offers to back her company—but there’s a cost. To secure his investment, Sloane must move into his Manhattan penthouse, where she’ll complete her first round of designs for him to review before Christmas.

Sloane throws herself into her work, yet soon the attraction between her and Cole becomes undeniable. As the city sparkles with Christmas splendor from her penthouse view, Sloane wonders if she has stepped into a fairy tale—until Cole’s powerful enemies close in. They will stop at nothing to destroy him, including going after the woman he loves. 

I will burn down the world to get her back…and it will be in time for Christmas. 

Private Jets, Penthouses, and… Mild Chemistry

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💜
Spice/Steam: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗
World building: 🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 😋😀😎😁
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration

🎧 Audiobook Review: He Knows When You’re Awake (Naughty or Nice, #2)

Author: Alta Hensley
Genre: Dark Romance / Holiday Romance
Narrator(s): Jillian Macie and Rock Engle

🎬 Character Background & Plot Dynamics

Cole Asher has been quietly observing Sloane Whitmore for months—not just her talent, but the way the banking world keeps shutting its doors on brilliant, innovative women. After turning a modest jewelry business into a luxury empire, Cole has made a habit (and a fortune) investing in overlooked female entrepreneurs. Sloane is one of those diamonds he’s determined to pull from obscurity… though his interest in her is far from strictly professional.

With a rival breathing down his neck, Cole needs Sloane’s creativity to help him beat Julian to market. Instead of approaching her like a normal business partner, he orchestrates a “chance” encounter during her night out. One spilled drink, one malfunctioning Rudolph sweater, and suddenly Sloane is swept into Cole’s orbit—and into a world she never expected.

🌟 What Worked for Me

• The Switzerland setup was pure holiday escapism. Cole flying Sloane out on a private jet for a business meeting that’s clearly more than business? Set against the snowy Swiss Alps? That’s the kind of luxe Christmas fantasy I’m always happy to sink into. The setting added charm, romance, and a sense of magic.
• The penthouse forced‑proximity dynamic hit the right notes. Cole insisting Sloane live with him and design in a protected workspace created intimacy, tension, and a sense of high stakes. It’s a trope I enjoy—especially when wrapped in glamour and justified by plot.

⤵️ What Didn’t Work as Well

• The technical jewelry details bogged things down. I appreciate technical depth in sci‑fi or thrillers, but the step‑by‑step mechanics of jewelry design didn’t add much here. Instead of enriching the story, they slowed the pacing and pulled me out of the emotional arc.
• The story never quite found its spark. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t memorable either. The plot felt predictable, and the emotional beats didn’t land with enough force to keep me fully engaged. I found myself drifting—and even dozing off at one point—which says a lot about the overall energy.

🎙️ Narration

Told in dual POV with dual narration, the audiobook features Jillian Macie and Rock Engle—both narrators I generally enjoy. They’re expressive, natural, and easy to listen to. Rock Engle does a solid job, though his voice doesn’t quite match the darker, more brooding edge Cole is meant to have. For a character with that kind of intensity, I prefer a deeper, more menacing tone. Still, the performances were polished and professional.

💬 Final Thoughts & Assessment

This audiobook offers a glamorous holiday setting, a powerful hero obsessed with a talented heroine, and a setup ripe for chemistry. But despite the luxe backdrop and the tropes I usually love, the story never fully came alive for me. The pacing dragged, the technical details overshadowed the romance, and the emotional tension never reached the level needed to make the plot feel urgent or unforgettable.

Overall, it’s a pleasant, lightly entertaining holiday listen—good for background enjoyment, but not one that stands out or begs for a re‑listen.

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