Sneak Peek: And Now, Back to You by BK Borison
ON OUR BOOKSHELF
And Now, Back to You
by BK Borison
A pre-release sneak peek of the second book in the Heartstrings series.
We finally get the Deckson romance that was teased so wonderfully in First-Time Caller (Amazon). And with the hi-jinx and their eccentric personalities, Delilah and Jackson are bound to entertain.
I am happy to report that And Now, Back to You brings us everything we loved about FTC. When an historical weather event brings them together, it’s all hands on deck to report on the snowstorm of the season.
I’m grateful to have received an advanced reader’s copy of And Now, Back to You via NetGalley!
The Sneak Peek
Main Characters: Delilah Stewart and Jackson Clark
Commonalities: Weather nerds
Differences: Different in every other way. She’s the storm to his calm, the rainbow to his grey, she may be full of bold, bright pattern, but she’s the one system he can never predict.
It’s been a year since we first met Delilah and Jackson, and we pick up after more traded pranks and growing frustration.
Building off the momentum of Heartstrings, KPG’s programming is more desirable than ever with its growing reach and listenership. They’ve captured the hearts of Baltimore and piqued the interest of a satellite network. To further prove the strength of their independent programming, Maggie has a brilliant idea— a proposed partnership with 101.6 LITE FM and YBAL (Baltimore’s news station) to cover an historic weather event.
It’s clear to anyone who has ever tuned into their weather reports (let alone interacted with them IRL) that they are polar opposites. But when a blizzard rolls in with heavy winds, well, they’re bound to get mixed up. And when they’re snowed in and there’s only one room available… you can guess what happens.
What Victoria Loved
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
I saw sparks of the writing I’ve gotten accustomed to by BK — the metaphors and analogies, the colorful and playful descriptions. It’s whimsical and joyful, even when she tackles complex topics like Alzheimer’s and neglectful parents. BK has a way of writing that forces you to slow down so you can savor every word, turn-of-phrase. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up annotating the entire book.
One of my favorite things about this book is how BK, once again, brings us a look at family. She deviates from the “traditional” definition to give us two different family models that will endear these characters to you in a heartbeat. Then she explores what it means to have a family member (not a biological parent) be your primary caregiver, what it looks like from the caregiver’s perspective, how it feels to have those roles switched over time, and what it means for the community that surround them. It’s empowering, while heartbreaking. We see the tenacity behind these characters and the pure love that drives them.
But as wonderfully as their respective relationships with their families are, I wish we got more background between Delilah and Jackson. BK planted so many seeds with Jackson’s frustration with this long-standing feud or annoyance with Delilah. But it seems to just instantly vanish after he collides with her and he sees her in the room with Keith. It’s like the fire that burns within and sets her spark ablaze dims in his presence and Jackson takes a 180.
These two are so emotionally mature despite their difficult circumstances. Their instant chemistry and the safety that they felt was so instantaneous that it just reinforced how much they needed each other. For so long each of them was without that grounding force, or they were seeking it from someone who didn’t deserve that honor or trust. So now that they’re in the position to be caregivers, they don’t even realize they’re looking for it or that need it until it’s standing next to them… in a blizzard.
And that blizzard — well, it takes us to a different part of Maryland this time around, but I have to say, I missed Baltimore. We didn’t get to know much of the setting outside the bedroom. So much coverage of the winter wonderland and parts of the lodge where they sought warmth and sustenance, but overall the world building was very much setting the winter wonderland and the ferocity of the storm.
All-in-all, this is the perfect winter read.
Pre-order your copy of And Now, Back to You (Amazon) and read with me!
Favorite Scene
“What possessed you to wear green?” I say with another peal of laughter, my voice high and breathy. I try to wrangle control of myself but I can’t. I will be holding on to the mental image of Jackson’s floating head in front of the weather map until my dying day. “You wore a green shirt in front of a green screen, Jackson.”
- AND NOW, BACK TO YOU by BK Borison
Similar Reads & Recommendations
WEATHER PEOPLE: Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon (Amazon)
In the mood for more news station drama? Here, we have a TV meteorologist and a sports reporter, who come together to reunite their divorced bosses (because their bosses’ disastrous relationship is impacting their careers). But as their scheming brings them together, are they setting themselves up to be another failed station romance?
VICTORIA’S RATING: 3/5
SHE’S UNAPOLOGETICALLY WHIMSICAL & THEY ESTABLISH RULES: The Rule Book by Sarah Adams (Amazon)
An HoH Book Club pick! I’ve read many sunny characters who shine bright. But Sarah Adams has written Nora Mackenzie so blindingly beautifully that I felt her sunshine energy pulse through my own veins and her optimism emboldened the colors of my reality. I was so enamored by Nora’s brilliance, I yearned for her to be real, simply because I want to be her friend.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
HE WEARS A SPECIFIC COLOR ON A SPECIFIC DAY: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne (Amazon)
This book features some of my favorite things (that also make an appearance in And Now, Back to You: donuts, one bed, and hi-jinx. Lucy and Joshua may be playing games by their own set of rules… but the pranks they play on each other are definitely worthy of Jackson and Delilah. And their personalities are pretty on-point as well!
VICTORIA’S RATING: 5/5
FORCED PROXIMITY DUE TO A WEATHER EVENT: The Mating Game by Lana Ferguson (Amazon)
May I tempt you with an HGTV-esque plot and *knotting*? Add in snowed-in with a lumberjack on top of a heat, and literally this book is what I’ve hoped every Hallmark romcom *could* be if the network was willing to go R-rated.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 3.5/5
BY THE AUTHOR: First-Time Caller by BK Borison (Amazon)
An HoH Book Club pick! Calling all romcom lovers, this book is for you! This is the perfect book for lovers of Tom Hanks / Meg Ryan, Sleepless in Seattle, Nora Ephron, 90s romcoms. Really, all lovers of love. I haven’t read a romcom quite this good in ages! Read my Sneak Peek.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 5/5
Until the next chapter!
xo, Victoria
P.S. Craving more books featuring these sub-genres, tropes, and themes? Tap the links below.
