Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Textual Connections

SERIES: Love in No Man’s Land – book 1)

AUTHOR: Becca Jackson

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 211 pages

RELEASE DATE: January 16, 2023

BLURB:

Mal

I thought I was good with my life in No Man’s Land. Truth be told, I was, until I messaged Bear.

What started as an online debate about coffee vs wine, has become something so much more, it doesn’t even matter that I don’t know his real name and have never seen his face. My daughter doesn’t agree.

She wants me to find someone “real” before she leaves for college, so when the neighbors hot brother rolls into town, she’s less than subtle about my single status.

Bobby is a free spirit, man in every town, according to his sister, but that’s not really him. He’s fun, adventurous, kind, and he’s a fantastic flirt, so when the similarities between Bear and Bobby start to align I can hardly believe my luck.

Can my online crush really be the guy next door?

Bear

I never wanted to come back to Normanland, traveling the world is everything to me, but the money has almost run out and I’m in desperate need of a sponsor that doesn’t make me cringe.

My sister thinks I’m crazy for not wanting to settle down, and when I told her about chatting online with Mal she basically gave me the whole catfish creeper tv-special warning and begged me not to try to meet him for real.

Not that Mal would want to come to Normanland. I can’t see what this small town has to offer anyone, that is until Michael takes it upon himself to show me the beauty of this town I’d chosen to forget.

Michael owns the local café, he’s a fan of puns, is an amazing dad and loves travel, though he’s never actually been anywhere… just like Mal.

I tell myself I must be crazy, because if Michael really is Mal, how long has he known? Was Meg right? Did I come back to Normanland just to get my heart broken, or could Mal really be the happy beginning I never knew I needed?

REVIEW:

I know I have said before what a treat it is to discover new authors, either new-to-me or brand new. And getting a brand new author at this level of writing is not only a gift to be savored but makes me super excited for what’s to come!!

Michael has a good life in No Man’s Land aka Normanland. He moved here to live and raise his baby girl Jess and made a life for the two of them. Along side his business partner Lucas they have upgraded Lucas’s Grandma Coral’s Bakery and Coffee Shop and added the space next door to create The Perfect Blend which is what their bakery and coffee shop/coffee bean roaster is. And life has been good for years…if not a bit lonely. About a year ago Michael started corresponding with the travel blogger Bear that blogs on his Unfiltered Earth blog as Mal. Michael has always dreamed of traveling the world but knew it was far in the future. He has roots and commitments in Normanland. But a guy can dream. When their on-line flirting heats up Michael has more to dream about. Bobby is running out of money to fund his travels and Unfiltered Earth blog so he returns to his childhood home of Normanland. If he doesn’t find a way to sponsor his blog without selling out on his dreams it may all soon come to an end. At least while he is home he will be in the same time zone as Mal, the coffee guy he has been on line with for the last year and maybe even get to meet up if he’s lucky. After all he’s the guy that named him Bear as the unfiltered Bear Grylls. Little do either guy realize that the man they are becoming attached to is now right next door!

You couldn’t help but want Mal and Bear to get together. They were just so perfect for each other. I kept turning the pages as fast as I could to see when they finally figured it out and who would first! And I have to admit, for Bear being so world traveler savvy he really was as dense as a rock at times. I mean how many hints have to be dropped before you catch on? And posting pictures is his thing but posting a cup of coffee with the logo on the cup? Knowing that you are in the same time zone…really? And knowing Mal followed your blog religiously, really really? But I applauded Michael for trying to drop some subtle hints but again…dense! I loved how he finally wasn’t so subtle and even then didn’t think he got through?  But when they finally both figured it out and realized that the guy they liked on line was the guy they each like next door it was Kismet! But of course that’s exactly when fate threw her wrench in by the ultimate funding source for Bear’s blog.

I was really excited when I reached the end of the book and realized this was book one and book two, with it being Lucas and Carter’s story, was coming next. I had really hoped that there would be more to this new series because I really got caught up in the side characters lives too and those two are the perfect next two to get their HEA. Although Carter seems to be about as clueless as Bear was and poor Lucas just keeps pining away! Not only do I hope that Lucas gets his man but he finally figured out the secret to his grandma’s brownies!  I am hoping that we eventually get Ari’s story and also what’s up with Marcus and why Harvey left so abruptly?

Great start to what is adding up to be a fabulous series by a very talented and gifted first-time author. I simply can’t wait for more!!!

RATING:

BUY LINK:

Amazon