Monday, April 17, 2023

Textual Connections (Love In No Man's Land #1)


Becca Jackson's debut novel "Textual Connections" (part of her Love In No Man's Land series) was in someone's email newsletter at some point in the recent past. Between waiting for the Love Is Blind Live Reunion last night and eating all my snacks (while waiting for said reunion), I binge read this gem.

["Mal
I thought I was good with my life in No Man’s Land. Truth be told, I was, until I messaged Bear.
What started as an online debate about coffee vs wine, has become something so much more, it doesn’t even matter that I don’t know his real name and have never seen his face. My daughter doesn’t agree.
She wants me to find someone “real” before she leaves for college, so when the neighbors hot brother rolls into town, she’s less than subtle about my single status.
Bobby is a free spirit, man in every town, according to his sister, but that’s not really him. He’s fun, adventurous, kind, and he’s a fantastic flirt, so when the similarities between Bear and Bobby start to align I can hardly believe my luck.
Can my online crush really be the guy next door?

Bear
I never wanted to come back to Nomanland, traveling the world is everything to me, but the money has almost run out and I’m in desperate need of a sponsor that doesn’t make me cringe.
My sister thinks I’m crazy for not wanting to settle down, and when I told her about chatting online with Mal she basically gave me the whole catfish creeper tv-special warning and begged me not to try to meet him for real.
Not that Mal would want to come to Nomanland. I can’t see what this small town has to offer anyone, that is until Michael takes it upon himself to show me the beauty of this town I’d chosen to forget.
Michael owns the local cafĂ©, he’s a fan of puns, is an amazing dad and loves travel, though he’s never actually been anywhere… just like Mal.
I tell myself I must be crazy, because if Michael really is Mal, how long has he known? Was Meg right? Did I come back to Normanland just to get my heart broken, or could Mal really be the happy beginning I never knew I needed?
"] 

This book was SOOOOO cute! All of the angst (well, most of it) was when the two would figure out that their real-life-crushes were also their online-crushes (obviously, they did--HEA and whatnot). There was so much sexual tension (and romantic tension). There was so much fluff and steam (oh. my. god. the steam). 

And this book set up the entire series. We met so many queer men (and women) who are in desperate need of love and a happily ever after. Some who are clearly in love with each other, some with serious chemistry, some who don't even have romance on their radar. And the town!! D: This small town is delightful and perfect and supportive, and I want to visit. 

Also, I want some of that famous hot cocoa and those brownies (even if the recipe isn't "right" yet).

#theboyfriendsham #textualconnections #thehalfbakedplan #whiskeybusiness #beccajackson #loveinnomansland #loveinnomanslandseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

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