Blind Date with a Book Nerd by Erica Dansereau & Britt Howard: Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

Ava Fox doesn’t date. Or at least, she hasn’t since she broke the heart of her college boyfriend seven years ago. Instead, she buries her fears and insecurities by pouring her heart into her job editing books for one of New York City’s most prestigious publishing houses and running her bookish social media accounts. The carefully curated life that Ava has crafted for herself unravels when the past makes an unexpected appearance at her best friend’s wedding.

Dawson Hayes never understood why the woman he planned to marry gave up on him just as their future was about to take flight. For seven years, he has worked night and day to prove himself worthy of her. Determined to win her back, he designs a dating app for book lovers to prove that their love story is one for the books. But what seems like the perfect plan is foiled by painful secrets that Dawson knows only God can heal.

When Ava and Dawson's lives intersect again under surprising circumstances, their chance to rekindle love is obstructed by past hurts and misconceptions. As they collaborate to enhance the Blind Date with a Book Nerd dating app, will they find their way back to each other, or is their chance at true love forever out of reach?

The Authors

Erica Dansereau is the 2022 Best Indie Book Award® Christian Fiction Winner and 2023 Eric Hoffer Book Award Category Finalist for her debut novel, Come Forth As Gold. Her desire as a writer is to glorify God and inspire readers to trust in His love and goodness. A married, stay-at-home mom of two, Erica loves spending time with her family, hiking, and having a nice cup of coffee or tea. And of course, a good book – be it reading or writing one.

Britt has been crafting stories ever since she can remember. From an early age, she has had a passion for writing stories that glorify God and encourage others in a faith-filled life. She believes that books are a beautiful way to bring us closer to God and deepen our faith through the gift of imagination. 

Her stories are filled with happily-ever-after endings only. While Britt's books will occasionally deal with more serious topics, such as grief, loss, struggles with faith, and other real-world issues, they will always return to a foundation of hope and joy. While romance is the focus of her stories, you won't find any graphic scenes between characters. Hallmark-level romance is her thing. As she likes to say, her romances may not be steamy, but they sure are swoony. 

When she isn't writing, you'll find her editing other authors' books, playing around with graphic design, or trying to work through her never-ending TBR...usually with a fresh cup of hot coffee and snacks nearby. 

Britt believes that stories highlighting the beauty and joy of a Christ-centered romance is one way to remind people of the love and goodness of Jesus. Her hope is to point you to His grace, mercy, and love for you through tales of real people who are walking through lives that may look similar to your own. 

To learn more about Britt's work, please visit www.britthoward.com.

Book Review

Blind Date with a Book Nerd is the second book in The Bookish Romance (TBR) series. While we see the couple and some mentions of events of the previous book, I do think this could be enjoyed as a standalone as well. 

This was such a beautiful story. I love a good second chance romance and this one was done so well. Though they had been apart for seven years, the love between Ava and Dawson is still clear right from their reunion... but there is so much fear and insecurity there that keeps Ava from wanting to fall in love again. I loved his patience throughout the story. And the app he created to match people based on book preferences? Such a fun idea and definitely added something unique to the story. This is definitely a book that book lovers can and will appreciate. Honestly, I've never read The Great Gatsby, but with all the references, it certainly had me wanting to pick it up. (But not having read it didn't at all impact my understanding or enjoyment of the story either!) The relationship Ava had with her mother was heartbreaking, but I loved seeing how she grew throughout the story and how big of a role faith played in that healing and growth. This one certainly doesn't shy away from keeping God in the center of everything, and I absolutely adored that. There truly was so much to love in this story! 

Blind Date with a Book Nerd is a Christian romance with kisses only and no language. 

You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/47u4DcS