Last Friday, during our weekly pizza-and-movie night, Matthew spent approximately twenty minutes explaining to the kids that the remote control batteries were dead in what he described as a “major household emergency.” He treated it with the same gravity he reserves for actual crises. Marcus immediately suggested we “call someone for help.” And honestly? That’s exactly the kind of logic that makes First-Time Caller work—a little girl calls a radio hotline for dating advice for her mom, and the whole world picks up the line.
Plot Summary
First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison is the first book in the Heartstrings series. Aiden Valentine is the host of Baltimore’s most popular romance radio hotline—but behind the scenes, he’s quietly lost faith in love. When a little girl named Maya calls in to find a date for her single mom, the heartwarming segment goes viral and thrusts the station into the spotlight. Lucie Stone is a down-to-earth auto mechanic and single mom who had no idea her daughter was playing matchmaker. Now all of Baltimore is rooting for her to find her happy ending—including, to his own surprise, Aiden. The station invites Lucie to co-host “Heartstrings” and search for love on air. What neither of them expected is what happens when the cameras are off.
Why I Love This Book
I love how First-Time Caller sneaks up on you. The premise is cozy and charming—almost too sweet to be true—but B.K. Borison layers in real emotional complexity. Aiden’s disillusionment with love isn’t just background noise; it shapes every interaction he has with Lucie, and watching that wall come down is deeply satisfying. Lucie is warm and grounded, and Maya is honestly one of the best kid characters I’ve read in a romance. The grumpy/sunshine dynamic (or, more accurately, jaded/cautiously hopeful) is handled with a light touch that never tips into cliche. It’s funny, it’s heartfelt, and it has one of the sweetest public declarations of love I’ve seen in a while.
Who Will Like This Book
If you enjoy contemporary romance with grumpy/sunshine energy, single parent storylines, and a cozy workplace setting, First-Time Caller is calling your name. It has the warmth of a Tessa Bailey novel with a media industry twist. This one is light on steam—there’s some miscommunication and a classic third-act break, but the resolution is worth every page. It’s a feel-good romance that leaves you smiling.
⚠️ Trigger warning: brief mention of past emotional neglect, divorce, mild sexual content, miscommunication trope.
Tagged As
contemporary romance, grumpy/sunshine, single parent, radio host, workplace romance, cozy, slow burn, media industry, series starter, Heartstrings Book 1, B.K. Borison, HEA
Steam Level
🌶️🌶️ Mild
This is a sweeter romance with minimal explicit content. The emotional connection is the real focus, and the physical relationship is tastefully portrayed without much heat on the page.
