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Face Time

S.J. Pajonas (Goodreads Author)

4.02 · Rating details · 114 ratings · 58 reviews

After the best first date ever, Lee thought Laura was funny, intelligent, and impulsive, and Laura loved Lee’s sweet smile and the way he expertly filled in every awkward pause. It was the date to end all dates. What could possibly be wrong? Just the 7000 miles that separates them the next day.

Their situation, though, doesn’t mean the dates have to end while Lee is in Seou ...more

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Paperback, 360 pages

Published April 25th 2014 by Onigiri Press

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2014 Romantic Releases (Jan-May)

518 books — 2,657 voters

2014 Contemporary Romance

233 books — 216 voters

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· 114 ratings · 58 reviews

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Jan 04, 2014 S.J. Pajonas added it · (Review from the author)

Shelves: self-published, authored-by-me, adult, romance, contemporary-romance, multicultural-romance

For buy links and more information, visit:
http://www.spajonas.com/face-time/

Read the first chapters of FACE TIME on Wattpad! http://www.wattpad.com/story/11816594...

Want to be notified when I have new books available? Join my New Releases mailing list: http://www.spajonas.com/newsletter/

Final edits are done and uploaded to NetGalley (04/10/2014) https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/sho...

READER NOTE: FACE TIME is a stand-alone novel and can be read out of sequence from any other future book in the ...more

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Jan 04, 2014 Lola rated it it was amazing

Shelves: e-books-on-kobo, got-a-copy-for-review-reviewed, books-that-i-own, e-books-on-ipad, lola-s-blog-tours

My Review:
I got a copy in exchange for an honest review

When I heard that SJ Pajonas was writing a contemporary romance book I knew I had to read it and the blurb sounded so good and original. When I received my ARC review copy I tried to convince myself I had some other review books I had to read first, but after finishing my current read my self control flew out of the window and I had to start this. This year has been slow so far in terms of reading, but I finished this book in only 3 days. I My Review:
I got a copy in exchange for an honest review

When I heard that SJ Pajonas was writing a contemporary romance book I knew I had to read it and the blurb sounded so good and original. When I received my ARC review copy I tried to convince myself I had some other review books I had to read first, but after finishing my current read my self control flew out of the window and I had to start this. This year has been slow so far in terms of reading, but I finished this book in only 3 days. I loved it so much and I want to read anything else this author is going to write. I love her writing style, the originality of the story and the fleshed out characters.

Face Time is an original story about two people who after their first date start to date through FaceTime. I have never read a book where people dated like this and it was really original and refreshing. Although I did wonder a bit how they where going to fall in love without actually seeing each other, but the author handled this really well. And beside the romance aspect there is so much more, both characters have a past, family issues and friends. I loved it all and couldn't stop reading.

Face Time is told from both Lee and Laura's point of view and this really worked well for this boook. I liked seeing both their sides of the story. Almost from the start I liked both Lee and Laure, they are easy character to like and the more I read the more I fell in love with these characters and I kept hoping they would get their happy ending. The gradually more and more characters are introduced and even though there is a big cast of side characters they each felt reall and where eays to keep apart. A few side characters I liked even more than the rest where Nicole, Lee's dad, Cori and Nari, they each surprised me in good way. I wanted to know more about each character and the author has done an amazing job creating such interesting side characters.

The romance is done so well, it's so real. I sometimes have an issue with romance books because they feel a bit fake, that certainly wasn't the issue with Face Time. Laura and Lee's relationship feels real and believeable. And they are so good together! Although some of the Face Time chats where a bit frustrating because I wanted them to be together and not only chat through Face Time.

While the focus is on the romance, there is so much more going on. Further into the story we learn much more about both characters. There are some emotional scenes, memories from the past that get's dragged up, family problems and developments with the side characters that all play a role. There also is a lot of character developments especially concerning Laura and Lee, they both grow to be a so much better and stronger version of themselves and it was great so see them change that way and realize things about themselves they didn't knew before.

To conclude: I loved this book! It's a real and believeable romance in the digital age. The story is orginal and addictive. The characters are likeable and believeable and the cast of side characters where fleshed out and interesting. Beside the romance aspect of the story there is so much more going on and I can't wait for the next book in this series. SJ Pajonas is certainly one of my favourite authors now and I can't wait to read all of the books she writes next!
...more

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Mar 13, 2014 Linda (un)Conventional Bookworms rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary, romance, read-in-2014, arc, 2014-releases

*I received a free copy of Face Time in exchange of an honest review*

Full review to come soon.

Sweet story about how dating via Face Time is possible while living in completely different parts of the world.

This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews ...more

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Mar 18, 2014 Christina rated it it was amazing

I wasn't sure what to expect when I first heard about FaceTime. A LDR seemed like a daunting element. I've lived in one. LDR's aren't easy and capturing that would be a hard story to tell. S. J. Pajonas did a great job communicating the nuances of time zones, schedules, and the challenge of proximity (or the lack thereof). I was blown away. It even made me a little jealous that our couple, Laura and Lee, got to tackle these things in technological glory of our time.

My other big surprise was how ...more

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Jan 04, 2014 Katie Carroll rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary-romance

I received a complimentary ARC of FACE TIME from the author in exchange for an honest review.

A chance meeting at a bar in N.Y.C. brings Laura and Lee together and sparks an instant attraction. After one wonderful date, Lee must return to his home in Seoul before traveling for work again and Laura is left behind in the New York apartment she shares with her mother. Unable to resist contacting each other, the two start a long-distance relationship. Their feelings grow and the sexual tension builds ...more

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Dec 19, 2014 Ana rated it it was amazing

Shelves: freebies, faves-2015

This review was originally posted on Read Me Away.

I'm always looking for a book that is able to realistically portray a long-distance relationship, especially in our age of Skype, smartphones, and Face Time. My reason being that I am in an LDR, and I am constantly looking for books that satisfy my need to read about couples in my situation. This book was able to nail down some of the main characteristics of an LDR (at least for me): time zones, texting at odd hours, insecurity, sharing photos, and desperately wishing the other person was there beside you. Minus all the family drama, I could see my relationship reflected in the one between Lee and Laura. This book was sweet, painful, hit so close to home, and was a great read.

First, the characters. I like that Pajonas doesn't go straight for the Asian stereotypes with Lee's family. They're Korean-American, and they have diverse personalities and ideas about culture and values. Yes, there's that sense of filial piety but it doesn't feel like the characters have been ripped from the many K-dramas that I watch. There's lots of drama in this book, but the drama feels well-done. You can see the clashing of cultures and personalities in the drama, and it doesn't feel like "drama for the sake of drama."

As for Laura, I really liked her. At first, I liked her because she was strong, independent, and didn't take any shit from anyone. As her story was slowly revealed to the reader, my heart was breaking for her. She has gone through so much hardship, things that would have broken anyone, but she managed to push through all that. By the end, she had completely endeared herself to me. She's an interesting contrast to Lee, who may not have gone through as much hardship, but had his own struggles and inner demons to face.

And OH their long-distance relationship! Their interactions were so realistic. The way they talked to each other, scheduled calls so that it would be at convenient times given their different timezones, it was like looking back at my own relationship. I felt such a connection with these two and so drawn by their relationship and dynamics.

So do I have any problems with this book? Well, there were a few bumps in the road. One was the pacing. Trust me, it's a great story but some parts just felt a little unnecessary or long to me. Second was that I'm just not into sex scenes in books. I don't dislike them, but I just end up skimming them and heading straight back to the story. From what I did read, they were tastefully done. Still, just not my thing.

Overall: I need to wrap this review up because it's getting rather long, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I just felt such a connection to this couple and the dynamics of their long-distance relationship. I really adore Laura and her character, I liked how the story progressed, and I just plain enjoyed this. ...more

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Jan 04, 2014 Tracy rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Contemporary Romance lovers!

Shelves: fav-books, 2014-reading-challenge

If there’s one thing S.J. Pajonas can do, besides yoga and knit, it’s tell a love story. More impressive is she can weave a love story so romantic and sexy through an iPad screen.

Told through both Lee and Laura’s point of view, Face Time is one of the most original novels I have read about letting go of the past and moving forward. It also focuses heavily on the scrutiny interracial relationships face as Lee is Korean American and Laura is Caucasian. Both Lee and Laura have dealt with difficult ...more

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Mar 10, 2014 ReadAlongWithSue rated it really liked it

Technology is a wonderful tool and it comes out in this wonderful modern romance.

A chance meeting at a bar, progressive feelings and attraction. Trouble is, he lives a long way away and she is caring for her Mother. That is where the Face Time comes in. I didn't know what Face Time was until I got an Iphone, its great! It definitely brings the person closer to you. So that is why I understood this story so well.

This is not a soppy romance or a 'live happily ever after' which is so getting borin ...more

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Apr 25, 2014 Jennifer Ann rated it it was amazing

This was one of those books I devoured in 24 hours. The story follows the lives of two strangers (Lee and Laura) after they have a brief encounter in New York. As Lee was on his way back to his home in Korea, they start an online romance, and eventually plan to meet up one day. I loved both characters, and I love seeing how they were able to make something like this work. There was just the right amount of hot romance involved, considering a big part of the book is spent wanting the two characte ...more

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Jul 11, 2015 Laz the Sailor rated it really liked it

Shelves: smut, z-2015-battle-of-the-books, rom-lite

This was a sweet romance with some warm and cuddly sex. Both H and h come from awful families, and they rise above them. They survive long periods apart (hence the title), and work through their various baggage. Some unique twists on familiar tropes.

Pajonas is an excellent writer who presents the Asian themes well.

Accidental re-read. The family angst doesn't hold up as well the second time. ...more

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Mar 24, 2014 Molly Lam rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2014

I was lucky to get to read an advanced reader copy of Face Time. A complete departure from S. J. Pajonas' other books in the Nogiku series, this was a great, quick read. There were moments that really captured the essence of long-distance relationships, and although I'm not typically a big fan of romance, I really enjoyed it. ...more

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Jun 02, 2014 Amanda G. (Nellie and Co. rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites-2014

After a slow reading period, I went looking for an easy, quick pick-me-up contemporary with a cute slushy romance and some simple reading and when I started Face Time, I thought I'd found just that, but Face Time ended up surprising me in so many ways. For the life of me, I cannot remember who it was, but I do know that a very lovely blogger commented on my blog a while ago and put this book on my radar, and while their name escapes me, I'd like to thank them for putting this beautiful, wonderfu After a slow reading period, I went looking for an easy, quick pick-me-up contemporary with a cute slushy romance and some simple reading and when I started Face Time, I thought I'd found just that, but Face Time ended up surprising me in so many ways. For the life of me, I cannot remember who it was, but I do know that a very lovely blogger commented on my blog a while ago and put this book on my radar, and while their name escapes me, I'd like to thank them for putting this beautiful, wonderful and absolutely perfect book in my line of sight.

I very rarely read adult books which strikes people I meet as a little odd, (being 19 years old and all) but personally, when I'm searching out a contemporary, I want something with a romantic balance and real life issues thrown in and sometimes with Adult you can get one of these features overpowering the plot line, but Face Time had a perfect balance of sweet slushy romance, some well written and well executed sex scenes (not for the young readers out there, that was some steamy stuff) but also had a wide range of features explored throughout the novel; it went into the prejudice and almost racist morals of some ethnic families, it developed the scaring truth behind poverty and homelessness, it highlighted the physical and mental scares behind pregnancies, starvation and verbal abuse in families and you'd think that with so much going on, this book would just feel clogged up, too busy and would generally flop, but I personally think it was these features that gave the novel it's depth and beauty. You can put any type of romance into a novel and I'll more or less read it, but there has to be something more, something to work alongside the romance that can develop it, strengthen it and make it something worth fighting for, and it's almost hard to believe that I didn't even know who Pajonas was until a few months ago. The pacing of Face Time was perfect too; it had the wonderful flowing feeling between both the perspectives and Pajonas managed to create a different voice and slight different style between Lee and Laura and I thought this was absolutely wonderful.

Diving into more detail about Lee and Laura, I have to admit, I'm extremely impressed by the dynamics Pajonas provided in Face Time. First port of call is her use of Korean cultures which I absolutely adored; I might not be Korean myself, nor do I consider myself educated in the culture, but Pajonas developed and educated me even the slightest of ways through Lee's family and want they wanted for him, and I also love that Lee isn't Caucasian like other authors and novels would have painted him as, the whole dynamics between Lee being Korean and Laura being American was so perfectly executed, I could not have imagined these two people any differently than what I did. I also loved how much effort Pajonas put into developing their characters througout this novel. Both characters start off pretty reserved, aloof and and not interested in much else other the life they're currently loving, but as the story progresses, as they talk more and more and their feelings develop, the lives slowly begin to unravel and the truths behind them also start to reveal themselves and I do think that this was wonderful; they each found that they're lives were changed and brought back into a lighter parts of themselves and how they affected one another and the decisions they made was just beautiful. Lee is definitely boyfriend material even though he may be 15 years my senior, but for me, Laura was my favourite of the pairing. Her inner strength and power to make herself a better person throughout everything she's been through, her emotion and her personality shone through in this novel too, she had this wonderful way of lifting you with her positive moods and sense of humour, but also touching you and making you appreciate the life you have because of what she's been through. There are no two couples that I could have wished for a more beautiful romance for, and beautiful and steamy romance it was; with fantastically written sex scenes, to absolutely slush romance, these two had possibly my favourite romance of year and the balance between them and their romance was, you guessed it, perfect.

The last place I want to venture with this review is to Pajonas' bravery to include the 21st century in every nook and cranny possible with this novel. In contemporaries, I usually come across somebody with an Iphone, or maybe a laptop, but Pajonas took it to a whole new level and created the dynamics of the relationship through this technology. To most people, the idea of a 7000 mile relationship sounds completely insane, but I've always personally wondered whether somebody's number one is in a different country, battling different things, and feeling just as lost as they are and Face Time developed this idea and made it huge. All of Lee's contact with Laura was through Ipads and Iphones and it was the simple things that I enjoyed about this feature; searching for a coffee house close by for your after date meeting, or googling something for a personal joke, to even including Goodreads, Facebook or other social sites in the novel, it was all executed wonderfully and the fact that this story was one so clearly taking place right now just made it even better. It enabled me to connect to the characters and the story in a way I've never been able to before with a book and it just put the cherry on top of this wonderful contemporary cake.

Face Time looks and sounds like just another long distance slushy romance, but believe me when I tell you it's not. Face Time delves into the depths of pain, suffering and mental and physical illness, as well as racism and judgemental families. Yes, the romance is absolutely adorable and cute in everyway, and yes, it takes place over a short amount of time, but the development involved is beautiful, the physical connection is to die for and the characters are two that will stay in your heart for a very long time. Face Time, without a doubt, made it into my favourites list, and I cannot recommend this book more. It's a beautiful read that you can absorb yourself fully into to, and I'm already waiting to see what story Pajonas will provide me with next. ...more

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Aug 31, 2019 Iza Brekilien rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, japan

How many years has this been on my e-reader, already ? And I'm just reading it now ?! Well, at least, I finally read it.
Many years ago, when I read Lola's blog, I saw that she really loved this author so I added S.J. Pajonas to my reading list and knew that one day, I'll get to read her. And I'm so glad I did. While cleaning my e-reader, recently, I deleted many books that didn't correspond to my tastes any more. I read the first few pages, sighed heavily and deleted them. I read the first few p ...more

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Feb 04, 2014 Dre rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, contemporary, review-copy, 2014, adult

When I found out that SJ Pajonas is putting out another book to the world, I grabbed the chance to get an advanced copy via this blog tour. I really enjoyed reading Nogiku Series, and I knew that I would enjoy this one, too. I wasn't wrong!

*ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review*

In a chance meeting at a bar in New York, Laura and Lee found themselves in a quick conversation that turned into a date to remember. We follow the lives of Laura Merchant and Lee Park. Laura is in her 30s, wo When I found out that SJ Pajonas is putting out another book to the world, I grabbed the chance to get an advanced copy via this blog tour. I really enjoyed reading Nogiku Series, and I knew that I would enjoy this one, too. I wasn't wrong!

*ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review*

In a chance meeting at a bar in New York, Laura and Lee found themselves in a quick conversation that turned into a date to remember. We follow the lives of Laura Merchant and Lee Park. Laura is in her 30s, working for HBO, and living in the city that never sleeps, New York. Lee is also in his 30s, working as an international lawyer, but is based in Seoul. This was made for a really complicated long distance relationship, eh? Yes. And No.

There were so many things about Laura that made me relate to her. She's been single for at least 2 years. She hasn't had any dates, either. Her social calendar consists of a once-a-week drinks with her co-workers, and she reads a lot of books. When I started to realize all these things, I felt like I was Laura! Honestly, it was like reading about myself. It's not based off of me, okay? :P

In my reality, I've never been on a long distance relationship, well, if you call '2 hours away' long distance, then...maybe. But with Laura and Lee's situation, they have at least 7000 miles between them. That's a feat, yeah? We got to love technology nowadays. We can talk to anyone from anywhere! And that is exactly what they did, they used technology to get in touch : Face Time!

The way they met was very organic, and the way they got to know each other, I consider organic, too. Although they used Face Time to go on dates, it didn't take away the fact that there is human interaction, albeit they can't be in the same room, but still, conversations between people via Face Time, Twitter, Facebook, can be considered an intimate way to get to know another person.

There were so many issues happening in both their families. They both had to deal with their difficult mothers, and Lee's is a traditional Korean mother. Plus, Lee had to deal with an ex-girlfriend. The motherly issues were what made me sad about this book. If not for how it was dealt with, I'd have given this book a 5-star rating. I do believe that conflicts can be resolved, especially within family members.

The best part in the book was the BIG GESTURE. I was swooning so hard over the fact that two people can be in that HAPPY situation! The high!

Overall, it was a really great read for me. And if you're looking for a really great romantic read that promotes hope and happiness, then read this! <3

Originally posted at Sporadic Reads ...more

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Mar 22, 2014 Trish at Between My Lines rated it liked it

Shelves: blog-tour

3.5 stars.

I haven’t read a book like this before that focused on love in the digital age and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Add in some family drama-rama and cultural themes and this was a really fun read.

First Line of Face Time:

“I’m being stood up by my co-workers yet again.”

My Thoughts on Face Time:

Confession time! When I picked up this book for some reason I thought it was YA. However it features characters in their early thirties and this was a pleasant surprise for me. When you are this age, you ...more

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Apr 10, 2014 Heather McCoubrey rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2014-reading-goal

I read an earlier version of the book and I have to say that the changes she's made have really given this story a lovely boost. I love this new book by S.J. Pajonas! As with her other works, her characters are very well-developed, developed to the point where you feel like you know them personally. The places she takes you are also developed so well that you can see, taste, touch and hear the activity around you. The reader is completely immersed in the worlds S.J. Pajonas creates and Face Time ...more

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Jan 06, 2015 Liina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Long distance relationships and communication via Internet are so common that it was great to read a book, where were both involved. I'm happy I found this book and I really enjoyed reading it.

Laura, who is waiting for friends, who didn't actually show up at a bar, she accidentally meets Lee, with whom she ends up going on a date the very next day. It is their first and last date before Lee has to leave for Korea again, where he lives. They start communicating via Face time and text messages, an ...more

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Aug 10, 2015 Rosemary rated it it was amazing

I received this book free after signing up for the author's newsletter (thank you!). I really enjoyed it. It had a lot of things that made it so enjoyable for me. First it tackles a long distance relationship and does so well, which I have found is not always the case. I loved how it uses technology in so much of the storyline. It's a really realistic look at what a LDR could look like with today's technology. I loved the Asian locations. The descriptions make you feel as if you are right there ...more

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Apr 25, 2014 Kathryn Biel rated it it was amazing

This book should come with a disclaimer--WARNING: EXCELLENT BOOK AHEAD. YOU WILL NOT SLEEP UNTIL YOU FINISH READING. This story grabbed me right in and I could not put it down. It is modern and romantic and different. The writing was so captivating. I was immediately drawn into both Laura and Lee's worlds, rooting for the to succeed despite the odds. There is no predictability; no cliched love story here. It is real life. How we put others' need before our own. How family does not live up to exp ...more

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Mar 24, 2015 Kindle Ninja rated it really liked it

Face Time takes us into the challenging world of online dating, further complicated by cultural differences. It’s a relationship doomed to fail from the get go, with Laura living in New York and Lee in Seoul. Every problem imaginable is hurled at the seemingly star-crossed lovers, thousand miles apart. The funny thing is that distance is the least of their worries. They had to contend with a disapproving mother, a persistent ex-girlfriend, and essentially a cultural divide.

It’s really a questio ...more

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Apr 21, 2014 Lia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned-books, lia-read, first-reads

I received this book through GoodReads First Reads

Wow! This book gripped me from the beginning it was lovely to see them start out by getting together the good old fashioned way yet use modern technology to keep things going! This books is about two people who meet in a bar but reality is they live 7'000 miles apart and Lee is leaving for Seoul just hours after a fantastic date with Laura. Laura carries a lot of "baggage" and her life sounds awfully depressing but she has overcome so much which ...more

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Feb 27, 2014 Elizabeth rated it really liked it

This book caught my eyes about a few weeks ago. And with the author putting up a chapter a time on Wattpad, I was dying to get my hands on it. This book did not disappoint!!! I love the dual POV, it made the characters come alive for me. I am Vietnamese and came to this country when I was two. My husband is "white" and my kids are mixed, so this book hit a few buttons for me. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next one!!! ...more

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Jan 09, 2014 Skylar rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ficton

This very modern love story was such a lovely, fun read. Long distance relationships of all sorts are so much more prevalent in this age of ALL THE TECHNOLOGIES. And Stephanie's book tells a tale of a random meeting that turns into so much more. Great read! ...more

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Mar 20, 2014 Laura rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2014-read

I loved this book. I loved the premise. I loved loved Laura and Lee. Two broken people who are perfect for each other. What I didn't like was the rushed ending! But damn, I want more of these two! Hurry up and buy your copy! ...more

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Dec 20, 2014 Larissa Brown rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, kindle, contemporary, written-by-a-knitter, new-york

I just loved this book. Lee is darling, Laura is great, and I was just rooting for them from the very first moment. Their first date was dreamy and first kiss was hot without being over the top. I read it in two days.

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Dec 03, 2014 Barb Shuler rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arcs_review-copy, contemporary-romance

First I would like to thank Choosy Bookworm and the author, S.J. Pajonas for a copy of this book in return for an honest review. This is a new author for me but I will tell you the title and the blurb I read of the book is what caught my attention. It hit home for me. The whole struggle of a long distance relationship. Can you make 7,000 miles between you work? I know from personal experience that you can but it takes a lot of hard work, trust and love to make it so you don’t go crazy with worry ...more

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Jul 01, 2020 Diane Burton rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I enjoyed this unusual romance--one carried on via FaceTime on an iPhone. Since we used FT a lot during the pandemic quarantine to stay in touch with your family, esp. the grandkids, that communication device isn't that special. However, the book was pubbed in 2014 when seeing and hearing callers was a marvel.

The characters are very sympathetic, their family issues are big, but instead of pulling them apart it binds them closer. Their mothers do their best to break this couple apart. Since it i ...more

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Jan 01, 2020 Bookosaurus (A book a day keeps reality away) rated it liked it

Shelves: dnf

The book isn't bad per se, but I wasn't just feeling it. Too bland and pedestrian. Quit midway through the book. ...more

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Apr 10, 2015 Nicole M. Hewitt rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction-addiction-read

This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction

Face Time is a modern take on long-distance romance. The story follows Lee and Laura who connect over one amazing dinner, only to be separated by 7000 miles (and a several hour time difference) the very next day when Lee returns to Korea. They decide to stay in touch via Face Time and see where things take them, but they soon find that starting a relationship over the internet has more than a few complications.

What I l ...more

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Jan 04, 2014 Brianna rated it really liked it

4.5 stars

*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.*

It’s not often that I read contemporary romance, these days. However, as I’d already read S.J.’s sci-fi series and really liked it, I wanted to see if I’d feel the same way about her contemporary stories. Also, I was drawn to this book because it was about a long-distance relationship which was aided by technology. In this day and age, who can’t relate to that? Well, I know I certainly understood, and I found this novel to be a rea 4.5 stars

*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.*

It’s not often that I read contemporary romance, these days. However, as I’d already read S.J.’s sci-fi series and really liked it, I wanted to see if I’d feel the same way about her contemporary stories. Also, I was drawn to this book because it was about a long-distance relationship which was aided by technology. In this day and age, who can’t relate to that? Well, I know I certainly understood, and I found this novel to be a really good read.

The narrators and main characters of this book were Lee and Laura. Laura was a very strong, independent, and brave woman, but her past made it hard to totally trust anyone new. Lee was a successful lawyer, who was trying to figure out what he wanted out of life, and he just happened to be Korean. The two of them made for great characters to follow this story through, especially as they got to know one another a lot better. I really liked both of them, and I found the author successfully made their voices different, so I could always tell who was narrating, even without the POV labels.

There were quite a few side characters in this book, ranging from friends, exes, and family. I loved and hated some, and others were not what they seemed. I think my favorite side characters were Laura’s friends, Theresa and Nicole. I loved Theresa for always telling Laura things straight out, even though she didn’t want to hurt her. Nicole was awesome, because she was a new, positive friend for Laura, and I could tell that they were a lot alike. As for the families, i definitely liked certain people more in Lee’s. This is because all Laura really had was her mother and her aunts, an her mother was really selfish, and she’s the one we got to know the best. Out of Lee’s family, I liked that Nari was different from how we were told she was, and I thought Jin was nice. However, I had real hatred for Lee’s mom, because she was very mean, interfering, and just a bad person. Then, there was Lee’s ex-girlfriend, Sandra. She was annoying, but nowhere near as hateful as Lee’s mother, and I absolutely loved the fact that there were never any misunderstandings between Lee and Laura over her.

The plot of this novel was all about Lee and Laura’s long-distance relationship. They had many obstacles in the forms of their families, pasts, and the distance between them. I loved the way they used technology to connect themselves to one another, because this is exactly what people do now, and I felt the realness of how hard the distance was for them. I also appreciated the fact that even though they were attracted to each other, they had to talk and really get to know one another, because they were so far apart. The multicultural aspect of this story was great to read about, as well. There were some villains in the form of their families, and a bit of drama, because of Laura’s past. I thought everything was very well-done, and I read this book in a matter of hours.

Overall, I thought that this story showed how a contemporary romance should be done. There was drama, complicated pasts, and insane families. However, there was also lots of communication, hardly any assuming, and no insta-love. I loved the relationship between Lee and Laura, and never once thought it was unhealthy. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants a real, modern-day, and multicultural love story, without all the cliches. ...more

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Stephanie (S. J.) is a writer, knitter, Capricorn, Japanophile, and USA Today Best Selling author. She loves summer, downtempo beats, yoga pants, foxes, owls, dogs, sushi, pasta, and black tea. She lives outside NYC with her husband, two great kids, and her dog who always wants to play. When it comes to her work, she writes about everyday women and u ...more