The second installment in the Love Lines series, Sweet Talk, an Audible original published in 2021, is available on Amazon in audiobook, Kindle, and paperback formats. Bastone’s dual perspectives from the female and male main characters are reflected in the audiobook narration by Lidia Dornet and Chris Brinkley. Their voices flow naturally and sound authentic, enhancing the audiobook experience.

Bastone’s easygoing vibe and witty writing style draw readers into this captivating story of a late-night text sent to the wrong number that sparks a budding romance between Jessie and Eliot. Eliot meant to text his sister, but instead sent a voice message to someone else in his contact list. Because of his dyslexia and other learning disabilities, the contact name appears as a jumbled series of letters, with JD being the only two that resemble a name. He starts calling the anonymous woman JD.

Jessie knows who Eliot is. He’s the guy she’s been crushing on for the past two months, and the voice text sent to her at booty o’clock in the morning, “Are you up?” was clearly meant for someone else. Still, she can’t resist replying, and the two begin late-night conversations with a game where Eliot earns points if he figures out her true identity.

The chemistry and banter between the two flow easily as Bastone weaves humor and charm into the characters’ backstories. The anonymity adds tension to this rom-com. Jessie’s backstory is serious, and the Jack subplot sours the romance with unethical vibes, making it less believable for Eliot to look past the transgression as easily as Bastone portrayed.

The witty chemistry is a bonus. However, the secrets and subplots undermine the book’s overall impact, making this a 2-star read.