Friday, October 7, 2022

Book Review ~ LONDON CALLING by Darby Baham

London Calling (The Friendship Chronicles, #3)
by: Darby Baham
Series: The Friendship Chronicles
Genre: Contemporary Multicultural Romance
Release Date: September 27, 2022
Publisher: Harlequin Special Edition

An American in London Searching for True Love!

Newly promoted ex-pat Robin Johnson is ready to take London by storm!

Her career blossoming, Rob soon tumbles headlong into the local dating scene…with disastrous results. When she confides her misadventures to her coworker’s understanding brother, Craig, the last thing she expects is to find a lasting spark—with him! After so many false starts, can Rob find it in her heart to give Craig the chance that he deserves?

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.


London Calling is the third book in Darby Baham’s Friendship Chronicles series. The story features thirty-year-old Robin Bridget Johnson. (I seriously LOVE when authors give characters middle names, don’t you?) Robin is on a quest to make a name for herself in the business world and also find true love.

The story starts out with Robin making the decision to leave Washington DC and move to London, after accepting a job promotion with a global investment management company. Leaving DC means that she’s also leaving her best friends Jenn, Reagan, and Rebecca. But have no fear, once she starts her new position she soon meets Olivia Robinson, the literal British version of herself. The two become fast friends and Robin starts to soak up all things British. This includes meeting men and going on some amazing and not-so-amazing dates.

When the unimaginable happens, Olivia is there to pick Robin up with movies, food, and of course drinks. A girls' night in with the two turns into a co-ed event when Olivia’s younger brother, Craig unexpectedly shows up and invites himself to stay. The charming Craig soon gets into a debate with Robin over who has the worst dating record. As you can guess, the two start to see each other, and things seem to be going really well. Soon, Robin’s mind and heart begin to disagree as to whether Craig is the right person for her. As Robin starts to fall into her old ways, the Shoe Divas from DC show up to put things in perspective.

Now, you might have noticed that I haven’t talked about Mr. Robinson. It’s because he surprised me and is honestly, literally the best part of this story. I don't want to give anything away. Seriously, he’s one of the good ones with a few jagged edges that need to be smoothed out. But he already knows this.

I’ve only read the second and third books in this series, but I have no doubt that The Shoe Diaries is just as good as, if not better than the books I’ve read. But let’s be honest. I thought the second book, Bloom Where You’re Planted was beyond amazing. As a new reader of Darby, I didn’t think London Calling could top Bloom but I was wrong. I found Robin and her quest for love to be so relatable. I was drawn into the story immediately and I felt every moment and emotion Robin went through.

That I know of, London Calling is currently the last book in The Friendship Chronicles series. However, I don’t think it should be. Olivia needs to find her own true love and I possibly have an idea of who it should be. Fingers crossed that I and other readers get to revisit this wonderful group of friends soon.

~ Favorite Quotes ~

“You got this. I believe in you.”

“It’s easy to take things for granted when it’s just there.”

“Actions speak louder than words.”

“Fear doesn’t have to stop you- it can push you and inspire you to move past it.”


**Received a copy from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.**

Rating: 5

Purchase London Calling from:

The Friendship Chronicles Series:

Bloom Where You’re Planted ~ Review

Darby Baham (she/her) is an author with Harlequin Special Edition, a senior managing editor at a New York City non-profit, and someone who probably has a shoe addiction. She’s had personal blog posts that have appeared in the Washington Post’s relationship vertical and worked in the communications industry for more than two decades. In 2020, the New Orleans, LA native and lover of big laughs signed a three-book deal with Harlequin Special Edition; the series follows a group of college friends and where they land in work, friendship, and love years later.

Places to find Darby Baham:

1 comment:

  1. I just finished this book last night and it's so good. Enjoyed your review.

    d

    ReplyDelete

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