Today is my stop during the Lola's Blog Tours book blitz for Face Time (Love in the Digital Age #1) by SJ Pajonas. This blitz takes place on April 25th, 28th and 30th. You can view the entire schedule here.
Face Time (Love in the Digital Age #1)
By SJ Pajonas
By SJ Pajonas
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age category: Adult
Release Date: April 25, 2014
Blurb
After the best first date ever, Lee thought Laura was funny, intelligent, and impulsive; a whirlwind of bright laughter and happiness. Laura loved Lee's sweet smile and the way he expertly filled in every awkward pause. He held her hand and then pulled her in for the most perfect kiss she’s had in years. What could possibly be wrong? Just the 7000 miles that separates them the next day.
Even though Lee has gone home to Seoul, Laura can't stop thinking about him. What starts as an innocent text thanking him for their dinner date becomes something much more: someone either of them can't live without. But Laura's got a live-in mother going through a midlife crisis, and Lee's stressful traveling schedule means they'll be apart for some time. Life, family, and a complicated past also get in the way, and they're both going to need actual face time to figure it out.
Told from both Lee and Laura’s point of view, FACE TIME is a funny, romantic, modern-day story about two people who connect across the world.
Rating
★★★☆☆
Review
★★★☆☆
Review
I was oddly excited about picking this book up. When it comes to romance novels, I usually stick to one of two categories ... either historical romance (LOVE this genre) or romantic suspense. I can't actually think of the last time I read a straight romance novel so when I read the blurb for this one, it sounded pretty interesting and I was sold!
Right from the beginning, I really enjoyed the sass from the main character, Laura. I thought that her character was realistic and super personable. She sounds like the modern woman which is what I'm assuming the author was going for. Pajonas hit that one out of the park.
One thing that I just couldn't connect with at first was when they were talking about Face Time ... not the title of this book ... but the ... app? Is it an app? I'm assuming it has to do with the iPhone because I've never heard of Face Time and I don't use an iPhone ... so I figured that's where it came from. I just didn't know what it was, hell ... I don't know what I thought the title of this book meant ... anyhow. Then there are these emoji (is that what they are?!?) ... the little symbols made into pictures ... dear, Lord. I feel really old as of right this minute and I'm only in my early 30's! Now, these issues won't apply to the majority of readers out there because they are more connected with modern ... stuff.
This book takes place in NYC which is cool but I've only been there once and it was when I was catching a flight to Italy ... maybe the airport doesn't count as being to NYC. Okay, I'm pretty sure it doesn't count. But anyway, what I was trying to say is that there were a lot of references to restaurants and streets ... things that just won't make sense to someone who hasn't been there in some capacity. It made the book lag a bit anytime the street or restaurant descriptions came up.
Lastly, this is one of those novels that flip-flops the POV. I don't mind the flip-flops, it can actually add a lot to a story line. But this time, I found it to be a little distracting because it was hard to differentiate between Lee and Laura when these switches happened. Now, maybe this is because Lee and Laura were really that alike and this does happen but I think it may have read a little better if I had been able to distinguish between the two. It is just hard to not lose the magic of the switching POV when you can't remember which character's head you're in.
All in all, this is a well written novel and it was amusing. It's a light read that you should pick up and take with you on vacation to read poolside this summer.
Want to know more about Face Time?
You can listen to the Face Time playlist
Visit the Face Time visual inspiration Pinterest board
View a teaser trailer for Face Time from Laura’s point of view:
Visit the Face Time visual inspiration Pinterest board
View a teaser trailer for Face Time from Laura’s point of view:
About the Author
S. J. Pajonas loves all things Asian and has been in love with Japan and the East for as long as she can remember. Writing about Asia and Japan came naturally after studying the culture and language for over fifteen years. She studied film and screenwriting first and eventually segued into fiction once she was no longer working a full-time job.
Face Time is the first novel in the Love in the Digital Age series, and Pajonas’s first foray into Korean culture and families. Along with Removed and Released in the Nogiku Series, she continues to take the cultures of Asia and weave them into stories that appeal to people from around the world. Her writing is described as unique and unpredictable. Expect the unexpected.
Stephanie lives with her husband and two children just outside of New York City. She loves reading, writing, film, J- and K-dramas, knitting, and astrology. Her favorite author is Haruki Murakami and favorite book is The Wind-up Bird Chronicle.
You can find and contact her here:
Giveaway
Grand Prize: $10 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card and an ebook copy of The Kimchi Chronicles.
First Prize: $10 Amazon GC or $10 Nook Card
For a chance to win, you can enter the giveaway here:
Thank you for hosting a review spot during the FACE TIME book blitz!
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