#first-time caller

✩☎️💛Review:

A tender, heart pounding love story that is its own sort of magic!

“First-Time Caller” follows Lucie Stone after her daughter’s viral interview on Baltimore’s romance hotline thrusts her into the spotlight alongside the jaded radio host tasked with helping her find her happy ending. 

My heart belongs to Lucie and Aiden! Their chemistry is undeniable and really shines through in the show’s transcripts. I enjoyed how wholesome their interactions were—from piggyback rides home to the charged Skee-Ball lessons at the bar! The overall pacing and development of their relationship from strangers-to-friends-to-lovers is beyond satisfying. I found myself getting teary-eyed as Lucie helped Aiden remember how to love again. The two experience some rough patches as Aiden sorts through his emotions, but the moment he finally gave in to the pull and acted on them was positively swoon-worthy. I love how Lucie’s blended family was cheering the both of them on every step of the way. I was kicking my feet the whole time and hope the entire cast make an appearance in the next installment!

This week I’m reviewing First-Time Caller by B. K. Borison ☎️

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb:

A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle–inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.

Aiden Valentine has a secret: he’s fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore’s romance hotline, that’s a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight. 

Lucie Stone thought she was doing just fine. She has a good job; an incredible family; and a smart, slightly devious kid. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinizing her love life—or lack thereof—she begins to question if she’s as happy as she believed. Maybe a little more romance wouldn’t be such a bad thing. 

Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy ending…even the handsome, temperamental man calling the shots. But when sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final decision between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her.

Review:

A hopeless romantic searching for romance finds herself on a dateline radio show.... with a cynical radio host... who just might be the perfect guy for her. Inspired by Sleepless in Seattle, this is a cozy romance about a an unexpected romance happening between two people who meet in an unexpected way. Aiden Valentine is the radio host of Heartstrings, a dating advice radio talk show... his secret? He doesn't believe in love anymore and doesn't want any part of it. Yet despite his show's ratings going down... he randomly gets a call at night from a young girl asking for dating advice for her mom... and this spirals and goes viral. Lucie Stone thought her life was fine: she's got a good job, she has an adorable daughter, and she's still best friends with her ex and his new partner, all happily coparenting and living in peace... the only thing is that she's given up on dating. When Lucie's daughter calls into the show and Lucie explains that she's looking for "magic" and won't settle for anything less than romance, she goes viral and the radio show invites her onto it. Heartstrings offers Lucie a spot on the show with Aiden in which the show will help her find her Mr. Right... yet the more time she spends with her handsome yet cynical cohost... she's starting to think that Mr. Right... might be right next to her if only he would open his heart up. Aiden knows he shouldn't be crushing on Lucie, that he's not the guy she's looking for... but his heart has something else to say about that and every day he's falling harder for her... but is he brave enough to tell her or will he lose her to someone else? This was such a cute and charming rom com. I've been a huge fan of B.K. Borison's books and writing and this Sleepless in Seattle inspired romance was perfection. Lucie and Aiden had so much chemistry and banter, and I would honestly love for this book to be made into a movie because it would be so so cute. This book just had me smiling while reading it and giggling over how sweet it was. I would absolutely recommend this for anyone looking for a cute heartfelt romance!

Release Date: February 11, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5