First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison: My Review
B.K. Borison is launching a brand new romance series with First-Time Caller, her nod to Nora Ephron’s classic, Sleepless in Seattle and it’s already one of my favorite romance books of 2025. Check out my book review to see why I love this slow burn romance and consider it a must-read for all romance book lovers.
*Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
First-Time Caller
by B.K. Borison
Category: Contemporary Romance
Tags: Slow Burn, Tortured Hero, Strong Heroine, Mechanic, Single Parent, Found Family
Series: Heartstrings
Published February 2025
Amazon | Goodreads
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First-Time Caller Summary:
Aiden Valentine has a secret: heโs fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimoreโs romance hotline, thatโs 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 lifeโor lack thereofโshe begins to question if sheโs as happy as she believed. Maybe a little more romance wouldnโt be such a bad thing.
Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy endingโฆeven 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.
First-Time Caller: My Review
First-Time Caller was like a balm to my soul when I needed it most. It made me believe in love and goodness again and Iโm not obsessed with Lucie and Aiden and never want to let them go.
I dived into my advanced reader copy on November 6, 2024 when I need to believe in love again. It was the perfect choice because I was hooked from the very first page and I did not come up for air until the very last word before immediately turning right around to read it again.
I wasnโt surprised that I loved this book because I binge-read every book in Borisonโs Lovelight Farms series because her writing, her character development and her storylines are like nothing Iโve read before. Because of that First-Time Caller made my list of most anticipated new romance books of 2025 as soon as it was announced and it did NOT disappoint.
I only wish I could stay within its pages a bit longer to escape the real world and live with characters who are honest and true, hopeful and caring, observant and loving โ all characteristics I wish we saw more of in this world.
The best part of this book is the hopefulness that underlines every page. The hopefulness that a once-in-a-lifetime love is out there and available to everyone no matter what life has presented you in the past.
I can totally commiserate with Lucie and the emotional place where she is when we first meet her. Sheโs made such a great life for herself given the hardship of becoming a mother at age 17 and cut off from her family at such a young age but I understand how the loneliness has become commonplace for her because of her responsibilities and the lackluster dating experiences of her past.
I could also feel for Aiden and how he cut his heart off from love and its possibilities as well given his experience with his motherโs health struggles.
Both of these people deserved a love so profound it would take their and my breath away and it did given the amazing slow burn storyline Borison crafted in this romance.
Lucie is the type of strong heroine I love in romance books. She was so honest with herself and her feelings and she was brave to put herself out there. Aiden, OMG, heโs why I love collecting book boyfriends. The man keeps a list of the things she likes in his glove compartment. Do you need to know anything else about this man and his awesomeness than that?
I am such a sucker for great romance movies and Sleepless in Seatle is such a classic. I loved how that movie was her inspiration for this story as the radio station hook that brought Aiden and Lucie together was so much fun to see unfold on the page.
Oh, how I wanted to be in that recording booth with them to see the slight touches and the smirks and smiles they so desperately tried to hold back and to hear their amazing banter as it unfolded.
I am so grateful this book was over 400 pages so that there wasnโt a rush to this beautiful blossoming of trust, friendship and love. I also loved how it mixed with this wonderful found family that we got to know as well between Lucie, Grayson, Mateo, Patty, and Lucieโs colleagues at the auto shop.
I am so in love with this story and cannot wait for the series to continue. B.K. Borison is such an amazing storyteller and I only hope we continue to read more of her stories for years to come.
Check out my interview with B.K. Borison about First-Time Caller!
*Thank you to Berkley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
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