This story completely blew me away! First-Time Caller is officially a favorite of 2026. It was a funny and charming read with wonderful characters that pulled me in and made me a part of their world. I'm excited to read the rest of the series. This one is not to be missed!
First-Time Caller (Heartstrings #1) by B.K. Borison
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.
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.
I freaking loved First-Time Caller so much! I
adored these flawed and real characters, their growing feelings as they get to
know each other, their off-the-charts chemistry, and the delicious slow burn of
them coming together. I laughed, I got choked up, and held my breath as the
story developed. It had the best build! There was not a time I wanted to put
this down, I was so excited while reading. This is officially one of my
favorite books this year. Six stars!
I loved how this was loosely based on Sleepless in
Seattle, but early on it evolved and took on a life of its own. I loved the banter
and flirt as Lucie and Aidan got to know each other, I could feel the pull
between them. There were so many witty and charming moments, and I adored it
all. Lucie was the best, and I loved learning about her. I felt for her, got
her, and understood why she made certain decisions. I loved seeing the strength
in her emerge. Aiden made me melt! I loved watching his cynical self fall for Lucie
as he battled his feelings. Even though I understood why he held back, I hurt
for him because he deserved all the good. I loved his growth and the moment when everything finally clicked for him. This story had a fantastic
slow burn happening, and by the time they got to their first kiss, I was beside
myself. It was so well timed. That want and need between them was palpable, so
when the spice finally does hit, it was perfect!
There were so many exceptional characters that were involved
from both of their lives. I loved every single one. I’m excited about what’s
been laid out for future stories in the series and cannot wait to dive in. I
loved the people at the radio station and how they were there for Aiden. I
loved Lucie’s daughter Maya and their relationship, as well as learning about
her baby daddy and the dynamic there. The humor and richness these characters
brought to the story had me laughing out loud so many times.
B.K. Borison is an incredible storyteller that I would absolutely
recommend. The details and descriptions, the character development, the
emotion, the humor, and the sense of hope this story gave me were brilliantly
done. It was totally entertaining with a wonderful vibe and made me feel all
the things. All the stars!
"All the stars! Entertaining and charming story with the best characters!" - About That Story
Connect with B.K. Borison
The Heartstrings Series
First-Time Caller (#1) - Amazon
And Now, Back to You (#2) - Amazon
Longtime Listener (#3) - Amazon
I love reading a new-to-me author and feeling blown away. Then following in all the places and adding their backlist to my TBR. Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this? Let me know!
