Better than a Box of Chocolates

By: Emily March

Narrated by: Andi Arndt, Jason Clarke

Length: 2 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Get ready to savor this delectable romantic treat - an audio-first novella by New York Times best-selling author Emily March! 

Valentine’s Day has always meant trouble for wedding photographer Ali Lovejoy. All her worst romantic disasters have happened on V-Day, so she’s made a habit of hiding out at home in her pjs until it’s over. But when her best friend begs her to do an engagement photoshoot on the dreaded holiday, Ali reluctantly agrees and travels to the quaint Colorado mountain town of Eternity Springs to help her bestie.  

While scouting romantic locations for the shoot, Ali is stunned to encounter a naked man skinny dipping in the hot springs. After the most awkward meeting of her life, she eventually agrees to a Valentine’s date with the sinfully delicious stranger. Is she destined for a fresh new disaster - or will she finally find real love?

©2022 Emily March (P)2022 Audible Originals

loved it

Loved it! I love the eternity springs series and this is a great addition to my collection! my favorite series to date

Relied too Heavily on Previous Titles

I waffled between two and three stars here (keeping in mind two stars is "it was okay" which is my sentiment more or less) but I bumped it up to three because the audio performers are so good, especially as a team. Seriously love those two.

Ooooh-kay. The downside on this one? The author really, really, really overdid the references to other books. As a reader, I'm here for Easter Eggs that make me grin and think 'oh, that's so-and-so's restaurant, I loved that book!' but when it becomes just a series of name-drops and references without context—or, worse, long dialog explanations—it's less Easter Egg and more I feel like 'I forgot to do the homework.' This novella really hammered home on the latter, and it didn't work. (Also, this feeling came without warning. This didn't have "an Eternity Springs novella" or anything to point out it was part of this ongoing/shared series.)

The narrative itself was cute enough: Max, a man with a tea-leaf reading grandmother, has been told he's got a fated woman out there and it'll happen on Valentine's Day meets woman, Ali, who has multiple reasons to hate Valentine's Day and they spark into an insta-lust/love connection that she resists because see above, re: Valentine's Day. That could have been enough, and if the author had just spun it that way, it would have been—instead, we get references to Max's identical cousin who is a famous actor on a show and is in town for reasons and the rumours of that... don't come to anything. (I assume this is another book?) Also, we get a woman who meddles in love lives because she's... uh, well, she runs a spa or something and has a fixation on angels? Again, without the context of other books, so much of the dialog turned into "Wait, who is she?" from Ali and Max saying, "Well, Jim, as you know..." info-dumps. Honestly, it was unfortunate—I think there was a good cookie of a story in here, but it got buried under so many layers of icing and sprinkles from other stories that I found myself frustrated just as often as I was charmed.

And it didn't make me want to check out the other books in the series, either.

Short and Sweet

Best short story this year for me.
Surprised by where the story line went.
Great quick read.

Adorably Fun

Jason Clarke and Andi are perfect as always in this quick, fun and adorable romance. Great light hearted read about two reluctant romantics meeting with a little push from friends and family mixed with a little fate.

Fun

A very light fun romantic story. I enjoyed the word play the most of all.

Sweet quick read / listen

Enjoyed the story of this sweet quick read / listen and more about the characters of Eternity Springs CO

Loved every moment of it!!!

Honestly, I didn’t have high hopes. I was just looking for something to take up the time. But once it started it pulled me in 100%. I found myself smiling and even laughing out loud at times. I loved every moment of it. It did the heart good!

Loved it, very fun.

Fun story, I loved it and wished it was longer. I would definitely recommend listening.

Loved this Romance

I am finding so many romances I am loving and this one is at the top of my list currently. I recommend this fun and cute story.

Perfect

I was so sad it was over. it was a fun story. I wish it was longer. Max is a super stud.