From the Back of the Book:

Working Title:

A Listening Ear  

Story Synopsis:

Bodhrán O’Shea takes pride in his ability to connect with people in need. Independently wealthy, he chooses to spend his nights volunteering at The Listening Ear, a mental health helpline. He finds fulfillment in providing a compassionate ear to strangers struggling with loneliness, depression, and other mental health issues.

One regular caller, who identifies herself only as “Luisella,” intrigues him more than most. Over the course of many late-night conversations spanning nearly a year, Bodhrán and Luisella form a genuine bond despite never meeting face-to-face. He comes to rely on her quick wit and musical laughter to get him through some of his toughest shifts on the phones. Luisella, in turn, seems to find solace in revealing her innermost hopes and fears to Bodhrán, trusting him unconditionally.

When Luisella finally proposes meeting in person, Bodhrán eagerly agrees. He selects a quaint café for their first rendezvous, giddy with anticipation. However, from the moment he arrives, he senses something is amiss. The woman who approaches his table bears no resemblance to the voice and description he feels he knows so well.

As she explains the tragic circumstances that led her to adopt a false identity, Bodhrán grapples with feelings of shock, betrayal, and—unexpectedly—compassion. In the aftermath of their meeting, he must find a way to reconcile his cherished friendship with the stranger now before him. Meanwhile, Luisella desperately hopes she has not lost her only confidant forever.

As they navigate this fragile new terrain, both must confront painful truths about themselves and the nature of their connection. Bodhrán questions whether the bond they shared was an illusion, while Luisella clings to the hope that it was real. Together, they must decide if their relationship can survive the revelations that have come to light.

With high emotional stakes, inner turmoil, and moral complexity, their journey explores the blurred lines between trust and deceit, isolation and connection. Their choices will reverberate through both lives, binding them together or tearing them irrevocably apart.
 

Questions:

  1. Would you purchase and read this novel if you saw it in a bookstore?
  2. Would you read this novel if it were given to you as a gift?
  3. How do you feel after having read the synopsis?
  4. What is your overall opinion of the genre?
  5. Have you ever read a contemporary romance before?

Drop me a comment down below! I would love to hear your opinion.