Smitten by Books

A Facebook Affair
Author: Tara Chevrestt
Publisher: Breathless Press
Pub. Date: December 9, 2011
ASIN: B006KM5UBQ
File Size: 215 KB
Digital Price: $3.99
Amazon

When Kelly and Brandon rediscover each other on Facebook after twenty years apart, it sparks an attraction that even distance can’t extinguish. Do they truly have a future, or is this just a Facebook affair?

Kelly Littleton takes the plunge and finally joins Facebook to socialize without the limits that her hearing impairment gives her. On a whim, she looks up a childhood friend. In sending him that first message, she ignites the memories of a crush from twenty years ago. But will they turn into the flames of romance, or end up the ashes of a Facebook affair?

Brandon Hopkins has a lot on his plate. A recent divorce, a pregnant sister, and now, he realizes he’s in love with a woman who lives states away. Can he overcome the boundaries of internet romance to make this desire turn into something real, or will adversity and distance be their undoing?

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REVIEW

Journalist Kelly Littleton has been taking care of her mother for the past five years and now feels lost and depressed after her mom’s death. Kelly has spent all of her spare time with her mom and because she is hearing-impaired, she has a hard time making friends. Kelly’s co-worker Tammy thinks Kelly needs to meet more people and convinces her to set up a Facebook account. Kelly soon reconnects with childhood friend Brandon Hopkins. Brandon and Kelly begin to correspond online, and Kelly finds that being able to send messages through Facebook is wonderful since her deafness doesn’t get in the way of communicating online. Before long, it looks like Kelly’s friendship with Brandon could even grow into something more, unless old heartaches from childhood get in the way.

The book alternates between the present and Kelly’s life in the second and third grades when she first met Brandon, and this method is an effective way to tell this story. Brandon was Kelly’s only friend in elementary school when everyone else either ignored her or bullied her. Kelly had the most problems with two popular girls, Caitlin and Lindsey, who made an already self-conscious Kelly feel like an outcast. Brandon was the only bright spot in her two years attending school in Enid, Oklahoma. When Kelly and Brandon meet again, she sees that he has grown up to be as kind and thoughtful (and handsome!) as he was as a child. It’s clear Brandon cares about Kelly and wants to understand what Kelly goes through everyday to cope with her deafness.

Through the narrative and Kelly’s conversations with Brandon, the reader sees some of the day-to-day things Kelly faces that the hearing world takes for granted. It is very interesting to see how Kelly is able to perform everyday tasks such as waking up on time for work or knowing someone has rung the doorbell. (Both the doorbell and the alarm clock are attached to a device under her mattress that shakes.) These details add realism to the story and educate the reader.

While Kelly and Brandon click right away and seem to be just what the other is looking for, but they have some substantial obstacles to overcome. While I was glad to see they both were quick to admit their feelings toward one another without any coy game-playing, it is realistic that not everything would fall right into place after being out of touch for twenty years. Kelly’s deafness doesn’t seem to be an issue, but they do live in two different towns. However, it’s their pasts that threaten their current happiness. One of the major issues they must deal with is one of girls that bullied Kelly is Brandon’s sister. The way this plays out rings true and isn’t given a pat solution just to move the story forward.

One thing that doesn’t make sense to me is that Brandon seems to be the only true friend Kelly has ever had and she only attended school with him for two years. Kelly is attractive, intelligent, and is able to read lips and speak, so it seems a little unbelievable that she wouldn’t have made friends at any of her other elementary schools or high school.

The idea of Kelly and Brandon getting to know each other again through Facebook messages give this love story a modern flavor. The fact that Kelly is hearing-impaired makes what sounds like a basic storyline even richer. Kelly has the confidence to share her feelings with Brandon online that she would have been uncomfortable trying to discuss face-to-face, especially since she hasn’t seen him in many years. They make a wonderful couple and there is friendship, romance, and passion in their newfound relationship.

There are a couple different twists at the end of the book that both strengthen and put Kelly and Brandon’s relationship to the test. I saw one coming, but not the other, and both plot turns are well-done and engaging. A Facebook Affair is a quick read that is entertaining and romantic and is told in an interesting way. I can’t think of a book I have read recently that has a main character who is deaf, and I enjoyed reading a well-written story told from this unique point of view.

Rating: 4 (Very Good – Highly Recommend)

Heat-Level: 3 (Sensual)
Reviewed by Christine K.