Love Connection

First Comes Love, Book 1

By: Camilla Isley

Narrated by: Audra Cook

Length: 6 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's Summary

Have you ever wondered what might have been? 

Gemma Dawson is at the airport, staring at two plane tickets to two different cities. Two different weddings. Two possible futures. She's at a crossroads. Be maid of honor at her best friend's wedding or crash her ex's? 

Gemma's decision, unknown to her, hinges on a delayed flight and a chance meeting. Now her life is about to go down two parallel tracks - will Gemma fly toward a life with her first love or a future with a man she's not even met yet? 

In concurrent storylines, Gemma lives out the consequences of each journey. Different stories unravel with unpredictable outcomes for Gemma and her loved ones. 

Love Connection is a romantic comedy about one woman, life's infinite possibilities, and the destiny that lies beyond two different choices. First Comes Love is a series of interconnected romantic novels. However, each book in the series can be read as a standalone novel.

©2016 Pink Bloom Press (P)2018 Pink Bloom Press

Good

This book was cute! I don't want to give away to much but I do wish it would have explained how she had both lives! Other that than it had great background, well rounded characters, and the narrator's voice was calming

Great Book!!

I loved this book. The main character has two choices in the story and it shows what would happen with each choice. Great characters and the author does a good job of keeping you entertained. Such a fun story!!

Love the What If

Camilla Isley wrote a great and original book with parallel stories. I loved the premise of What If. Life does not give us mulligan's, but this book did! What a unique concept for the book, with the Heart Knows. This is the first book I've listened to by Camilla Isley. Audra Cook did a great performance bringing realistic emotions and distinguishable voices for the various characters. I really enjoyed the storylines in this book, and thought the outcome was great. I will definitely listen to more books by this author and narrator.

Horribly narrated

To be fair I could not even finish this book be cause the narration was so terrible. At times it truly seemed as if a computer was narrating this book. The narrator had absolutely no emotion in her voice and spoke so monotone it would literally begin to lull me to sleep. The book also has some really weird sound effects like popcorn popping and a cat purring which I think were probably added to compensate for the horrible job narrating.
The content of the book is ok, would have probably been better with better narration. The book lacked overall maturity.

The narrator ruined the story

Stormi originally read this for the blog and rated it 5 Boundless stars.  When Isley approached us about reviewing the audiobook I decided to take it since Stormi doesn’t like audiobooks and I love them.

This story is reminiscent of the Gwyneth Paltrow movie Sliding doors.  There are two choices that happen and two different stories with the same character that take place in different timeline/dimension.  The stories are sweet, clean and sappy.  Much like a Julia Roberts romantic comedy, Runaway Bride comes to mind.  The theme of the stories is to follow your heart.  

I would have enjoyed this book more had I read it.  I listen to a lot of audiobooks; I typically am listening to one every day, so I am pretty picky about narrators.  A narrator will make or break the audiobook.  Cook’s narration of this story didn’t flow.  I could tell she was reading the story; she didn’t bring any life or zest to the characters.  Her narration fell flat for me, her pacing was off, and there was no deviation from one character to the next.  

Overall I am giving this audiobook 3 Boundless stars.  The narrator would get less, and the book would get more.  

Interesting concept - fun book!

Have you ever been at a crossroad and wondered which path to take? Camilla Isley explores this dilemma in The Love Connection. It’s quite an interesting concept to write side by side stories in the same novel.
Gemma, the main character, has two airline tickets in her possession – one will take her to her best friend’s wedding and the other to her ex-boyfriend’s wedding, a man she never stopped loving. In one story, she chooses to attend her friend’s wedding in order to stop her from marrying a philandering man. In the other story, she goes to stop the wedding of her old love and plead for him to choose her instead.
There are a lot of amusing moments and some of it you know could never happen in the real world. But that is what romantic comedies are for – to delve into a world of romantic fantasy and laugh over unlikely situations.
The Love Connection was more than a simple romance. I found myself wondering about the paths I’ve had to choose and where I would be if I had made different choices. Would fate and destiny intervene and land me where I am today? Or would my life be completely different? These questions will be answered by the end of the book.
I listened to the audio version of this book, narrated by Audra Cook. The narration was done very well. Ms. Cook spoke clearly and did a nice job varying the voices. Her execution was enjoyable and pleasant.
I would definitely read or listen to another book by this author.

Fun Romantic Comedy that Makes You Wonder What If?

Love Connection is the perfect summer beach read that will make you chuckle in parts and start to question your own “what if’s” in others. It reminds me of the very first audiobook I ever listened to in 2001 ~ The Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux. In that story three best friends who are turning 40-years old travel to a summerhouse in Maine to reminisce about their lives and loves. While there, each one is given the chance to turn her "what might have been" into reality.

In Love Connection, London attorney Gemma Dawson is at the Chicago airport trying to decide if she should fly on to be the maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding or fly to California and crash her ex-boyfriend’s wedding. While at the airport trying to make the decision, she discovers that her best friend’s fiancé has been carrying on an illicit affair with an airline hostess for over a year. On the other hand, she’s never forgotten her ex, and she’s convinced that he is her “once in a lifetime” soul-mate. The rest of the story alternates between which flight she took and how her life ultimately ends up (to great satisfaction).

I listened to the audiobook of Love Connection and it was easy to listen to. Camilla Isley's writing style is pure romantic comedy with entertaining characters and realistic conversations. It’s what I call "brain candy" ~ it makes you feel light-hearted while listening to it as you get a short reprieve from your everyday life. I also really enjoyed her other audiobooks, “A Sudden Crush” and “I Wish for You.” I highly recommend Love Connection and look forward to listening to the next audiobook in this entertaining series!

Like Sliding Doors but better

I loved the parallel story lines Sliding Doors style, but I actually liked this story better than the movie because it was all happy without drama. I never got confused between the two realities and loved how they wrapped up in the end, it was just perfect. This was an easy. witty, romantic listen perfect for a bit of an escape....