And Now, Back to You by B K Borison

And Now, Back to You by B K Borison

The second book in B K Borison's best-selling Heartstrings series, And Now, Back to You was highly anticipated after the success of First-Time Caller (officially being adapted for the big screen!). I for one, have been eagerly awaiting the release of this book from the moment I realized that there was a second book coming and I scream sang "I hope it's about Jackson!" Happily, it is. And I couldn't be more delighted. It deals with bullying, child abuse and neglect, chronic illness, panic attacks, abandonment, and injury.

Jackson Clark is buttoned up. Organized, regimented, reliable. He has to be, ever since he took custody of his twin sisters a decade ago. It's the way that makes him feel stable and like he can give that stability to his sisters. His arch nemesis - whether she knows it or not - is the meteorologist from the television station across the street that can't park inside the lines and manages to make sure whatever she is holding stains Jackson's shirt every time they see each other. She is chaos and unfettered sunshine, which Jackson finds incredibly annoying. Only after a brilliant idea hatched by their separate bosses, in which Delilah and Jackson will travel together to cover a historic snowstorm in a joint segment airing on both her news program and his radio station, does Jackson realize that maybe he's been wrong this whole time. Maybe he doesn't hate her light, maybe it's exactly what he's been missing.

This is going to be short and sweet. I started smiling about 20 seconds into this book and I never stopped. I just walked around everywhere with a big grin, much of the time when no one could see my earbud. It was wonderful. Jackson is grumpy to start but honest with himself much of the time, and I for one loved to hear both his protests and his proclamations. Delilah was a little more difficult. At the beginning I though her teasing bordered a little too much on mean, but she got over it eventually. I loved the addition of the new secondary characters: Jackson's twin sisters, cameraman Mark, Delilah's best friend Gianna. And I rather enjoyed the overall plot of the book while loving the slow build of Jackson and Delilah's relationship. It wasn't overly slow but didn't feel too fast either, the dialogue was fun and quippy at times, genuine when necessary, and the setting was adorable. I liked the snowed-in trope, especially since they traveled to the mountains knowing that they would be snowed-in. Cute, fun, full of tropes but didn't feel corny. I loved it. It always includes the most mortifying situation I could imagine getting into. I guess it wasn't so short.

I'm giving And Now, Back to You by B K Borison 5 stars with a spice rating of 3. No notes, Ms. Borison, please keep it up. I'll be eagerly awaiting any news of a future book.

For more from the author, check out https://bkborison.com/

Pairs well with a cruffin (apparently I chose cruffins for First-Time Caller too, so this is a different, more complex recipe) and going sledding - donut shaped intertube optional.

My favorite quotes:

"It's not so much stage fright as a complete and total break with reality."

"'You're very passionate about weather phenomena, Jackson. That's nothing to be ashamed of.'"

"'Do you think Jackson and Delilah would consider covering completely normal weather conditions together? I miss them.'"

Review of First-Time Caller by B K Borison - Heartstrings book 1

Review of Lovelight Farms by B K Borison - Lovelight book 1