My Funny Valentine

Jasper Falls, Book 5

By: Lydia Michaels

Narrated by: Amber Battaglia

Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's Summary

My Funny Valentine is the fifth book in the Jasper Falls series by best-selling and award-winning author Lydia Michaels.

©2022 Lydia Michaels (P)2022 Lydia Michaels

This couple really goes through it

This series is like a warm hug. Our characters have struggles and watching them work through it is so special.

This was a great redemption book for Erin and I loved seeing what her pain and issues were. Giovanni was a gem. Loved it.

4 stars

Nuance and Powerful

My Funny Valentine is an incise discussion of the trauma of familial abuse and neglect in the context of a romance. Micheals deftly manages to handle the light with serious is a exquisite manner.

All the feels and then some

This series is full of emotion from laughter to tears and everything in between. Lydia Michaels has also touched on some hard topics whether meeting them head-on or touching on issues in the periphery. My Funny Valentine goes full steam ahead and parts of this one feel all too real and are hard to get through. If you're familiar with the series and read the last book, then you'll remember Erin but not in a good way. I'll admit that I wasn't at all sure how this one was gonna go because I really wasn't sure I could warm up to Erin. She was pretty nasty in Pining for You, and I didn't think I could be convinced of a reason for her actions. Honestly, I'm still not sure about a reason, but my heart broke for her circumstances. Then there's Giovanni, and the more time he spent with Erin, the more I liked her. His patience and persistence with Erin were absolutely swoony, especially when they were coupled with his more outrageous moments. My own momma always told me to find a man who could make me laugh, so Giovanni is my kind of guy. There's also something about a couple who are so good for each other that one brings out the best in the other and vice versa. Erin and Giovanni are that couple, and I loved Erin's journey. I've loved this series from the beginning, but this story is one that really hit me in the feels, one that will stick with me.
Amber Battaglia gave voice to the characters, and she was just right for Erin. She captured the emotions so well, all the emotions. Even Erin's personal growth and the anguish she dealt with on her journey come through in Battaglia's performance.
I don't know if Lydia Michaels has anything else planned for Jasper Falls, but I hope so because these characters have found their way into my heart. Like the rest, this fifth book in the series can be read as a standalone. Past characters do pop in and out, but it doesn't cause any confusion. That said, I'd recommend starting at the beginning because you don't want to miss out on any of these great couples.

Absolutely heartbreaking but wonderful!!

I received an audible version of this book and I loved listening to this story. It's definitely a enemies to lovers type of story since Erin is so mean to Giovanni who is just doing a stand up routine and she heckles him. So not cool... lol but she redeems herself and once you get her horrible back story, you really start to sympathize with her character. They spend some time together really getting to know each other and it gets a little spicy which I loved! 🔥🔥

This book gave me so many feels... I laughed, I cried, I blushed, and I felt love. The narrator did an amazing job keeping me entertained and engrossed in the story.

I highly recommend it and now I'm going to have to go back and read/listen to the other books in this series!

I received an ALC for my honest review!

Deeply emotional romance!!

My Funny Valentine, an Audiobook by Lydia Michaels is book 5 in the Jasper Falls series. It is the excruciatingly emotional story of Giovanni and Erin. Whew….so much damage, pain, and shock…it was difficult, at times to stay disconnected. Fabulous story….excellent character development…and very well written. I often felt like this story was more of an internal monologue than a story. Maybe it was because it was written in the third person. There wasn’t much actual dialogue between characters, just a continuous journal-like oration. It was a little difficult to get connected…but, once I did, it was an excellent read!!

This Audiobook was narrated by Amber Battaglia, who does a fabulous job of bringing out the depth of the characters and the gut-wrenching emotion that they experience. Overall, wonderful story!!

I am volunteering to leave a review for an Advance Reader Copy of this Audiobook.

Emotional yet entertaining

4.5 Stars for My Funny Valentine ( Jasper Falls #5)
I read this before listening so I did have some preconceived ideas on how I thought this story should sound and Amber Battaglia did a wonderful job with the narration, she really had me believing I was in the same room visiting Jasper Falls.
Another visit to Jasper Falls and another great addition to the series but be warned Erin and Giovanni’s story is not all sweetness and light, this is an emotional roller coaster and I do feel the need to point out there maybe triggers for some readers. This is a beautifully written story that touches on subject matters that a lot of authors would steer clear off and Lydia Michaels did a wonderful job taking us on Erin and Giovanni’s journey.
Erin hasn’t had an easy life but her motto has always been the best form of defence is attack but the only person she can’t use her own motto for is her Dad and that leads to a miserable life. Erin has built walls to protect herself and it’s going to take a very special man to break them down so could Giovanni be that man.
Giovanni is an aspiring stand-up comedian who left Jasper Falls many years ago but back in town for one show he finds himself rescuing Erin from her car when she has an accident in a blizzard. Stranded in one room has this couple finding things out about each other as they pass the time and suddenly lust becomes hate and then moves into so much more…….
A beautifully written, emotional roller coaster that will touch you on so many levels, it’s not just a story about love, it’s about finding yourself and learning to trust. A great addition to the Jasper Falls series and I’m excited to see where we get taken next in this series.

Emotional

I've loved listening to the jasper Falls series. Though I don't particularly enjoy third-person storytelling, the story pulled me in from the beginning, and My Funny Valentine is my new favorite of the series. However, you should know of physical and emotional abuse triggers before starting. These events will leave your heart aching for Erin as she is left behind by those she loved and knew should always be there for her, which skews her self-worth and leads her to believe relationships ultimately end in pain.

Erin and Giovanni will begin a relationship with many ups and downs in an enemy-to-lover, forced proximity romance. Their beginning had me disliking Giovanni, but the more time he spent with Erin, I discovered a caring and sweet side that I couldn't help but love this very patient man. Unfortunately, Erin had a lot of emotional baggage to unpack. Her inner dialogue had me wanting to yell at her when she would second guess or overthink, but I understood why she felt that way, so I had too had to be patient.

Amber Battaglia did a spectacular job narrating both characters.

Not what you would expect

I listened to the audio performed by Amber Battaglia. She did an amazing job reading this story and giving it the emotions it needed.


This book was not what I expected. Is it an enemies to lovers absolutely. Is this book a little more dark and secretive yes. This book is more about Erin past and moving on from it. There definitely triggers in this book that could make it or break it for readers. This book was emotional and definitely a love story I enjoyed. Giovanni character is great. He is funny with a great heart. The way he is with Erin will melt your heart. Erin and Giovanni relationship is fire and ice. It is everything you would expect in a good romance.

good story

I read this one first, and I think I enjoyed it more reading than I did listening . I still enjoyed the audio, don't get me wrong. this was my first book with this narrator, and she wasn't bad, I would listen to her again

Surprisingly heavy subjects.

This book was surprisingly pretty heavy. It had triggers of physical and emotional abuse. The "funny" in the title comes from the hero being a stand-up comedian. There's really not much else funny in the book. That being said, My Funny Valentine is a highly emotional story. It has a enemies to friends trope and a forced proximity trope.

Erin has seen little love in her life and has suffered abuse. She is one messed up gal. It has made emotional intimacy exceedingly difficult for her. That becomes apparent after she is stranded with one of her childhood enemies during a snowstorm. Giovanni has had no use for Erin, but starts to see wisps of a different woman as he spends more time with her. The question is whether Erin's behavior will drive Giovanni away or could he be destined to leave her regardless of any changes she makes?

The story really had a dark side. I just want to know why no one got this girl some professional help!

I listened to the video version of this book. The narration was pretty good. Thanks to Valentine PR for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

A beautiful heart breaking, second chance romance!

My Funny Valentine is book five in the Jasper Falls series and is a second chance bully romance about love and redemption that will break your heart and put you back together again in the most beautiful way.
Erin Montgomery is a relentless, hard on the outside yet super vulnerable heroine. We are introduced to Erin and her shockingly horrific childhood in the prologue. It tells us how her family are terrorised by her father Ward who is a pillar of the community. Her mother and brother flee the abuse leaving Erin at the mercy of the vicious man and unable to let anyone get close.
Giovanni Moscani is our cocky, aspiring comedian hero of the story. He grew up in Jasper Falls but has been touring with his comedy act. He’s home to visit his family and do a comedy gig. It’s at this gig that Erin heckles him, and he retaliates by humiliating her in front of a good chunk of the town. The two end up snowed in together where Erin’s hard-faced persona slips which allows Giovanni a glimpse of who the real Erin Montgomery is.
I was totally captivated with Amber Battaglia’s narration. This is my first-time hearing Amber’s work, and I can’t think of a better introduction than her bringing Erin and Giovanni to life.
I loved My Funny Valentine, even if Erin broke my heart and had the tears flowing, Giovanni swiftly put my heart back together again and had me swooning.
My favourite quote of the book
“I want you. I want your soft lips and your sweet body. I want your mind and your secrets. I want your kisses and your moans. But most of all, I want your trust, because I know it’s not something you easily give.”

Emotional and Heartbreaking!

This is the fifth book in the Jasper Falls Series, a Small Town Romance. OMG! This story is emotional, and heartbreaking! Erin is such a beautiful, and strong character. My heart broke for her. Giovanni is handsome, caring, and protective. I liked his determination. They are perfect together. This story is intricate, and enthralling. The ending is beautiful. Amber Battaglia did an excellent job with the narration.

My Funny Valentine

Back in Jasper Falls 🥰

This story is something special. It's not like many other stories, because Erin and Giovanni have a very difficult relationship. Nothing comes easy for them.

Erin has issues from her past and Giovanni has problems of finding his place in life.
But they fight for there love ❤️

Happy Valentines Day!

Get ready to feel!

Jasper Falls is a series of small town romances, but this one is by far the most emotional of them. Erin lives with her father, an abusive man that has no love for anything but his hardware store. Now grown, she finds herself stuck in this situation. The girl no one likes, the constant bullying and teasing, and her horrible home life has her like a hamster on a wheel, unable to get off. That is until Giovanni. When Giovanni comes into her life, he is like a force, making her feel but unable to penetrate the fear she feels. He is an upcoming comedian, facing his own failures but he continues his pursuit of Erin. Until he too finds himself in a dark place, unable to find his success. Will these two people find their way out and their way to happiness? Lydia Michaels has taken us on a roller coaster of emotions with this book. It's has relevant issues, and they are not sugar coated in any way. She invests your heart, makes want to take care of these two and find their way. We do get to visit with some of the the other characters we have previously met too, giving us that glimpse of their future, which is always fun. This is a fantastic listen, one to take to heart and show how we don't always know what goes on behind closed doors.

Amber Battaglia is our storyteller and she does a wonderful job. There are a lot of emotions in this one, times that you will cringe and others you will love. She uses her voices to delve into the story and have us feel it all. It's a great performance, and I will be watching for more from her.

Heartbreaking

This book is the 5th book in the Jasper Falls series, it can be read as a standalone however to get a better idea of the characters and the environment, I would advise reading the previous books before going into this one.

Erin, wow. First up, I would like to point out, in the previous books, she was not my favourite character. She was nowhere close, she was rude and all around, not a nice person. In this book, however, we see a completely different side to her and wow what a tough life she had! Giovanni, oh Giovanni, what a sweetheart. He can be awkward at times but you got to love him and his personality. Trying to make it as a comedian, Giovanni is the perfect person to try and tear down Erin's walls. He is patient and so sweet!

I loved this enemies-to-lovers book. The dual POV really gave a greater understanding to the characters which I really enjoyed.
Overall I would recommend this book.

Triggers:Abuse