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 thought. 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 call between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her.
Heartstrings. Book 1
It's a pretty okay romance. It was me who read it not in the best condition.
Lucie is a single mom with a pretty interesting family situation, the father of her child lives just next door with his husband. She got pregnant early, but she decided to give birth which estranged her and him from their parents. But as who she actually is she didn't want to bind Grayson to herself in a marriage. Girl has her own logic.
Now she's 29 and she seems to have a perfect life in a way. She has her family, she doesn't need much from life and works as a mechanic, until that fateful call to the radio station where she shares her own view on romance.
Maybe as hopeless romantic as she is she wants a bit more from a relationship, some kind of magic and spark. But since she didn't get it from few tries in life she decided she has enough, never realizing that even her own kid wants to see her happy.
The dying radio show called "Heartstrings" (hence the series) received a boost in ratings after that fateful call and the head of it Maggie decided to invite Lucie to co-host on few nights a week.
This is where she and Aiden spent the time together and Aiden was visibly against the whole idea, while Lucie decided to step out of her comfort zone and try.
Some say it's a slow burn but I'd say it's yearning, does not have any vulgar feeling to it too. I find that they felt an instant attraction for each other. Hence their following reaction.
Lucie actually does not know if she's okay for this world as she is, but she has more courage than she shows.
Aiden on the other hand is very defensive towards feelings because of his family situation and how it shaped it emotionally.
In the end Aiden is the one who is there for her most of the time, because he promised he would not let her be hurt and be made fun of.
They pretty openly admit they are attracted to each other and simply flirted all this time, but will this flirting lead them anywhere?
Although Lucie started at wanting some magic and spark, but she found out that being with Aiden in this moment right now is what is fun. She eventually takes a brave step to close the proximity and claim that if he is ready, she will be there waiting for him.
The problem that stumbled Aiden from being opened and honest originates in his fear of loving that became a habit. His mother was diagnosed several times and as a defense mechanism of sorts he distanced himself from his parents, so maybe if he loved them less it would hurt less (which of course never helped). But is it good to continue like that? Although he always repeated that he was not enough for Lucie, but to her he was what she wanted.
And this leads us to the final scene were Lucie is asked to be a temporary host on the radio while Aiden is supposed to come soon, but he calls the radio instead and he bares what he wants to say. "Long-time listener, first-time caller" this is where the title of this book comes from.
So the book has a nice closure with almost twin events, it starts from a call and ends with a call.
Interesting to note that her daughter Maya actually never said she wants a 'daddy', after all she has two dads, but she basically wanted her mother to be happy. This is why this story concentrates mostly on their relationship, instead of Aiden trying to fit in their family. And I think such development is logical, from now on when they're together it is the logical moment for him to start and blend in.
Overall it was a good time. The only point I want to make is that this book feels longer than it should be. Personally I would shorten the contents a bit, because it felt like we're mulling over he same things and repeat ourselves.
Also another note.. I wonder why the one who drew the cover did not bother to actually represent the characters? I mean Aiden is blue-eyed and he almost always wears a sweatshirt (never wore a shirt), Lucie should have brownish hair, despite her freckles, they're faint. Just those details. Also I wonder why they decided to include a telephone when they contacted via a mobile phone. Does it add to the aesthetic?
RATE: 4/5.