great book

This book was great, I really enjoyed it. Got to be honest at the start I didn't think I would as it took a little getting used to the fact the first part of the book is just the messages between the two characters. It then changes to the female point of view. You don't get an insight into their feelings etc. which was strange at first but then I really got hooked. Made you think about what they were saying and form your own opinions.
if you want a good romance that's little different then I'd highly recommend.
I say this after suffering a head injury recently and audio books are the only thing keeping me from boredom. this is probably the 60th book in the past 4 months I've read and trust me when I say to read a book that had me hooked after my marathon is saying something.

2 people found this helpful

a great audio

I wondered how this book would work in audio as the start is done through emails. the 2 narrators worked great with this storyline.
the story itself was so well done. the sloew and cautious connection of 2 strangers through emails. we see the barriers break down and the friendship build and then the slow burn of a classic Mariana Zapata romance. we also have a great supporting cast of characters. I can certainly relate to Ruby's relationships with her siblings and mum.
I highly recommend this book for a fun read, I was going to say light read but there is too much going to say that. The book is long but you don't feel like you are ever waiting for something to happen, each chapter is fully relevant to the story.

2 people found this helpful

Loved

Mariana Zapata can literally do no wrong!! I have loved every one of her books that I have read, fallen head over heels in love with them, been left with book hangovers that can’t be cured and I am here for it each and every one of them.

Can I also add that not only have I read this book, I listened to it on audiobook ( Callie Dalton and Teddy Hamilton are the BEST narrators ) I’ve done the same for a few of her books and Callie Dalton never fails.

Okay so this is a slow burn, totally filled with banter, cute moments, almost all of the book is letters or emails between them and I totally loveeee that!

Our two leads are Aaron (obviously) and Ruby, they just get each other, perfectly made for each other and no matter how far part they are the chemistry can be felt!

Aaron is in the army, has been for 11 years he didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life he just knew he wanted to be more than the family business. He is down right handsome, so funny, filled with banter and wit. Protective and cute, I couldn’t get enough of him. He doesn’t realise how much he needs Ruby’s letters until they start coming. She makes him smile and laugh more than he ever has. He’s just gotten out of a bad relationship so at first he is unsure if he wants the connection but Ruby can not be denied, she doesn’t quit.
Can he trust enough to open up his heart again?
He thinks he’s done with relationships but will Ruby totally blow that thought away?

Ruby is totally adorable and awkward in the best way! I love her personality so much and to add to that she is beautiful even if she doesn’t believe it (when she thinks her mum and sister are the stunners of the family) she’s ‘Just Ruby’. She is matched with Aaron in the program that sends letters or emails to soldiers over seas. She continues to write even when he isn’t replying, determined not to give up and give him some light from home.
She has had her heart broken by the person she’s been in love with her whole life, everyone knows she loves him but no one knows what happened between them. The classic big brothers best friend..
Her heart was not ready for Aaron.. she is determined not to make the same mistake again, falling in love with someone who can’t love her back.

I swooned, I laughed and I loved!

Cute story…

Absolutely adored Ruby and Aaron’s love story and how well Mariana Zapata developed the characters and their relationship but somehow I felt there was something missing which is why I’m rating it 4 instead of 5. However, it is still a very good book.

Another Zapata super slow burn

I have to be honest, if this was not on audible, and I was painting my walls (a lot of walls!) I probably would not have finished. The first half is the emails/letter communication of Ruby, a fairly introverted seamstress who lived with her parents and worked for the family. She was writing to Aaron, a soldier posted in Iraq. They meet up about half way through the book in a wierd house party environment with a group of Aaron's friends, declare their feelings for each other at the end of this holiday and then we have a very brief epilogue.

I enjoyed listening. Sort of. It just left me with so many questions and loose ends. I feel like this is half a book (a very long book!). We get so many hints about Ruby's family, but never meet any of them, and never find out their reactions to her romance with someone she knew only through letters for a year. Aaron's family is a complete mystery. A strange subplot of a friend's sister's accident, problems with his mother, siblings mentioned but never explained and a father who apparently was very wealthy and unhappy that Aaron would not join the family business. Aaron is 29, has been in the army for years but apparently still cannot decided what he wants to "do' with his life. We never get a really clear idea of his army experience, even though we get a vague hint of PTSD that is never referred to again. He seems to be very ambiviant about his army career, but at the end of the book he reenlists? The books ends abruptly. They get together as a couple at the very end, have a tearful parting at the airport at the end of the holiday and then bam, we are in the epilogue where they are apparently living their 'happy ever after'. How this happened, what they are both doing, where they are living (in the same house, state, country???) what their plans are for the future, how they get on with their respective families, we have no clear explanation. Zapata is a brilliant writer, and even though this is not the best of her books, it is still way better than 90% of the offerings in this genre on Kindle and Audible. Unfortunately, as with Kulti, there is "slow burn' and there is 'no burn'.

Love love love!

I loved this book. Loved it!! The story, the characters, the way it was written, everything! I do wish that all of Aaron’s parts in the audiobook had been read by the man and not just the texts/emails but other than that, it was perfect. 😍

Love love love

I’ve become a massive fan of Marianas audiobooks this year, I’ve listened to them all now. I left this one until last because I wasn’t sure if I would be as engrossed as the first half of the book is messages sent between the 2 main characters. Teddy and Callie made this a pleasure to listen to.
It was great to see the developing relationship between Aaron and Ruby, there were some real LOL moments. Also Ruby is the older sister of Jasmine in the Lukov book, which is one of my favourites.
Love how MZ weaves in characters from other books of hers, it feels like we are catching up with old friends.
Callie and Teddy did a fantastic job at narration, they put so much feeling into it.
My only gripe…. I wish we could experience more of their HEA, but I’m greedy like that 😋

Sweet but boring

I usually enjoy Mariana Zapatas slow burn romance books but this one was pretty boring.

OMG

why not Tommy act Aaron in 15-22 chapters?
i think way better when they read both this chapters.

i loved every single bit

different from the other books.. i truly loved it. great format and the readers are perfect. i wish Teddy was more involved in the second part just because he is gorgeous, but hey, can't have it all. i see what other ppl are saying about the ending, but that 4 min epilogue gives u a clear view of what happens next. this book goes up to my top 5.