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Airport Novellas #1
The Love Connection
An airport pet groomer meets her frequent flier crush in this captivating romance novella from the acclaimed author of How to Fail at Flirting
Ollie Wright loves the thrill of taking chances, like opening a pet grooming salon in an airport where every day is a little unpredictable. The one thing she won't risk is her heart, so catching glimpses of a cute stranger from afar is enough romantic entanglement for her.
Bennett Baker is a professional risk assessor by day while writing popular romance novels at night, except he finds himself facing writer's block. His life of carefully planned stability comes crashing down when he rescues a slippery pup in the airport and returns it to the enchanting pet groomer whose laugh inspires him to start writing again.
Their chance encounter and instant chemistry thrusts them into a whirlwind of airport dates at pretzel kiosks, stolen glances at empty gates, and late-night texts that leave them swooning. If the risk-adverse Bennett can take a chance on uncertainty and adventurous Ollie will break her own rule, their relationship might stop taxiing and actually take off.
Ollie Wright loves the thrill of taking chances, like opening a pet grooming salon in an airport where every day is a little unpredictable. The one thing she won't risk is her heart, so catching glimpses of a cute stranger from afar is enough romantic entanglement for her.
Bennett Baker is a professional risk assessor by day while writing popular romance novels at night, except he finds himself facing writer's block. His life of carefully planned stability comes crashing down when he rescues a slippery pup in the airport and returns it to the enchanting pet groomer whose laugh inspires him to start writing again.
Their chance encounter and instant chemistry thrusts them into a whirlwind of airport dates at pretzel kiosks, stolen glances at empty gates, and late-night texts that leave them swooning. If the risk-adverse Bennett can take a chance on uncertainty and adventurous Ollie will break her own rule, their relationship might stop taxiing and actually take off.
128 pages, ebook
First published April 5, 2022
101 people are currently reading
5427 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 822 reviews
August 5, 2022
Such a sweet and lighthearted, enjoyable novella from one of my favorite romance authors.
I wish this book could be regular length book instead of novella so I could spend more time with these lovely characters.
Ollie: A sweet heroine with enthusiastic, cute laugh, focusing on her pet grooming salon she’s opened with her bestie at airport and a runaway dog acts like her own Cupid sealing her fate with her a charming stranger she’s lusting from distance. She runs behind the dog and meet the cute moment finally occurs as the fictional fireworks start to explode!
Bennett is the charming analyst with secret identity. At the nighttime he turns into romance author but unfortunately he’s suffering from writer’s block. As soon as he meets her cute, they start to see each other during his layovers at the airport. Those romantic meetings and nighttime texting turn into something more intimate!
Overall: it’s a lovely, fast reading with adorable characters that I highly recommend to novella lovers!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
I wish this book could be regular length book instead of novella so I could spend more time with these lovely characters.
Ollie: A sweet heroine with enthusiastic, cute laugh, focusing on her pet grooming salon she’s opened with her bestie at airport and a runaway dog acts like her own Cupid sealing her fate with her a charming stranger she’s lusting from distance. She runs behind the dog and meet the cute moment finally occurs as the fictional fireworks start to explode!
Bennett is the charming analyst with secret identity. At the nighttime he turns into romance author but unfortunately he’s suffering from writer’s block. As soon as he meets her cute, they start to see each other during his layovers at the airport. Those romantic meetings and nighttime texting turn into something more intimate!
Overall: it’s a lovely, fast reading with adorable characters that I highly recommend to novella lovers!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
May 18, 2022
“Look who I’m asking. If he ain’t in a book, you don’t want him.”
I think I found me an author who’s writing I just click with.
Adorable in all the ways. We have a hero who is a romance author. 🥹
And a heroine who’s a dog groomer at an airport and a reader.
And that’s how they meet. Cute airport dates, cute pets, sassy grandma and bookishness ensues.
I think I found me an author who’s writing I just click with.
Adorable in all the ways. We have a hero who is a romance author. 🥹
And a heroine who’s a dog groomer at an airport and a reader.
And that’s how they meet. Cute airport dates, cute pets, sassy grandma and bookishness ensues.
September 5, 2022
I’ve been reading great reviews of Denise Williams’s books, and I thought the airport novellas would be a the perfect way for me dive in this summer.
I can see why this author is so well-loved because she immediately draws you in with her well-written storylines and completely lovable, smart characters. In this case, we have a dog groomer who has a shop in the airport, so plenty of antics with dogs ensue. We also have a frequent flyer she sees all the time.
Ollie and Bennett make a “love connection,” and it’s so sweet and easy and heartwarming. A quick read, but “just enough,” and I’m excited to pick up the next story!
Many of my reviews cans also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
I can see why this author is so well-loved because she immediately draws you in with her well-written storylines and completely lovable, smart characters. In this case, we have a dog groomer who has a shop in the airport, so plenty of antics with dogs ensue. We also have a frequent flyer she sees all the time.
Ollie and Bennett make a “love connection,” and it’s so sweet and easy and heartwarming. A quick read, but “just enough,” and I’m excited to pick up the next story!
Many of my reviews cans also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
May 16, 2022
I thought this was a cute, fun and quick novella. I loved that it was set in an airport and the main character owned a pet grooming business. The one dislike I had about it is that I didn't really feel any chemistry from our two main characters. They just didn't have that spark so that's what lessened this novella for me.
If your looking for a quick, cute novella I would check this one out.
If your looking for a quick, cute novella I would check this one out.
December 5, 2025
HE WANTS TO ADOPT A PUPPY JUST SO HE CAN HAVE AN EXCUSE TO SEE HER AGAIN?
immediate 5 star.
The characters had such a connection (pun intended) which was shocking to me, it didn’t really feel insta-lovey even though it would be classified as that..
Bennett and Ollie 🥺🧡
ugh i love them sm i need more.
can’t wait to read the other two novellas!! (AHHH i actually own all three, and picked up the audiobook BUT i didn’t know those were the ones i owned 💔💔)
amazing prose and characters. beginning to love Denise's writing style!! 💕
(5/5)⭐️🛩
immediate 5 star.
The characters had such a connection (pun intended) which was shocking to me, it didn’t really feel insta-lovey even though it would be classified as that..
Bennett and Ollie 🥺🧡
ugh i love them sm i need more.
can’t wait to read the other two novellas!! (AHHH i actually own all three, and picked up the audiobook BUT i didn’t know those were the ones i owned 💔💔)
amazing prose and characters. beginning to love Denise's writing style!! 💕
(5/5)⭐️🛩
May 24, 2022
✨I gotta meet this freakin' carriage!✨
Lol what was that...
My three notes:
1. The writing of the sex scene is so weirddddd like it’s trying to kiss the line of explicit but it’s just off. There’s no mention of him physically 👌👈 but then she’s like “you’re inside me!” And I was like wait wuT like if you’re gonna go through the effort of this writing style, why not just give us the whole enchilada????? He was pulling out before I knew he was inside her 😭
2. If he’s a romance author who writes scorching sex scenes and you keep referencing a carriage, deliver his scorching carriage scene or a carriage scene with the two of them my lord
"Oh just...That hot carriage scene."
I gotta meet this freakin' carriage!
3. I’m sorry but that conflict 🥴 "I'm not giving up on you." GORL you absolutely hit eject from that relationship so fast 💀
⭐️⭐️.25*/5 🌶🌶.5/5
*it was just absolutely unmemorable and I get that it’s a novella but…no amount of pages could really help this
Lol what was that...
My three notes:
1. The writing of the sex scene is so weirddddd like it’s trying to kiss the line of explicit but it’s just off. There’s no mention of him physically 👌👈 but then she’s like “you’re inside me!” And I was like wait wuT like if you’re gonna go through the effort of this writing style, why not just give us the whole enchilada????? He was pulling out before I knew he was inside her 😭
2. If he’s a romance author who writes scorching sex scenes and you keep referencing a carriage, deliver his scorching carriage scene or a carriage scene with the two of them my lord
"Oh just...That hot carriage scene."
I gotta meet this freakin' carriage!
3. I’m sorry but that conflict 🥴 "I'm not giving up on you." GORL you absolutely hit eject from that relationship so fast 💀
⭐️⭐️.25*/5 🌶🌶.5/5
*it was just absolutely unmemorable and I get that it’s a novella but…no amount of pages could really help this
July 31, 2022
4 to 4 1/2 stars
May 10, 2022
Review coming soon.
Read
August 6, 2022Such an adorable story. Ollie and Bennett are dreamy and fun.
March 26, 2025
4⭑
This novella was super cute and the perfect read while travelling on an aeroplane!!
The novella takes place at an airport where Ollie works as a pet groomer directly in front of the gate that Bennett takes his flight every few weeks. She notices him often so develops a bit of a crush on him until one day they have the cutest meet cute and he becomes instantly attracted to her.
Bennett travels a lot for his risk assessment job but he is also a ROMANCE author in his spare time. Before meeting Ollie, he was experiencing writers block but after their meet cute, he finds that he can’t stop writing and he sees her a little bit as his muse.
The next time he is at the airport, he explained to Ollie that she inspired him to write again and he asked if he could take her on dates when he has his stopovers so he can get more inspo for his book. As Ollie had a bad breakup, her friend suggests she go ahead with the dates as practice before she goes back into the dating pool.
Honestly for 140ish pages, I thought it was written well and didn’t feel too rushed either. I highly enjoyed this!!
This novella was super cute and the perfect read while travelling on an aeroplane!!
The novella takes place at an airport where Ollie works as a pet groomer directly in front of the gate that Bennett takes his flight every few weeks. She notices him often so develops a bit of a crush on him until one day they have the cutest meet cute and he becomes instantly attracted to her.
Bennett travels a lot for his risk assessment job but he is also a ROMANCE author in his spare time. Before meeting Ollie, he was experiencing writers block but after their meet cute, he finds that he can’t stop writing and he sees her a little bit as his muse.
The next time he is at the airport, he explained to Ollie that she inspired him to write again and he asked if he could take her on dates when he has his stopovers so he can get more inspo for his book. As Ollie had a bad breakup, her friend suggests she go ahead with the dates as practice before she goes back into the dating pool.
Honestly for 140ish pages, I thought it was written well and didn’t feel too rushed either. I highly enjoyed this!!
August 30, 2022
This was a short cute romance happen in the airport.
The progression of their relationship from meet cute to some delightfully passionate moments is perfectly handled, and the character development and humorous banter are both wonderful. Nothing was hurried.
The Love Connection is exciting, novel, and very seductive. Check it out if you're seeking for a brief but enjoyable romance to read this summer.
The progression of their relationship from meet cute to some delightfully passionate moments is perfectly handled, and the character development and humorous banter are both wonderful. Nothing was hurried.
The Love Connection is exciting, novel, and very seductive. Check it out if you're seeking for a brief but enjoyable romance to read this summer.
June 19, 2022
i have always fantasized about a fun airport romance with a moonlighting author and HERE SHE IS
September 11, 2023
2.5⭐️
I need to sit with this one for a bit. It’s hard to determine why this novella didn’t land emotionally, aside from it suffering from the usual trappings of mediocre novellas
I need to sit with this one for a bit. It’s hard to determine why this novella didn’t land emotionally, aside from it suffering from the usual trappings of mediocre novellas
September 17, 2024
3 ⭐
It was a short and quite fun novel. I really liked everything about the fact that it takes place in an airport and that MMC is a writer.
The ending seemed a bit rushed to me, but I don't really care about it since it's a short novel.
It was a short and quite fun novel. I really liked everything about the fact that it takes place in an airport and that MMC is a writer.
The ending seemed a bit rushed to me, but I don't really care about it since it's a short novel.
April 15, 2022
Cute! This one was pretty cute 🥰 so when I started the audio I didn’t realize it was a novella! It was cute & I loved their terminal dates :) it was a good audio novella!
March 31, 2022
Narrated by my fave (January LaVoy!), this was a cute and fun novella. More to come.
May 2, 2022
Audiobook Review
Overall 3.5 stars
Performance 4.5 stars
Story 3 stars
This was a fun and quick novella with a unique meet cute. The airport dates between Ollie and Bennett were really sweet and I loved that Bennett was a romance writer. Having his fictional steamy scenes make their way into the bedroom was chef's kiss. I wasn't a fan of the conflict, but overall this was an enjoyable listen. The narration by January LaVoy was fantastic and Shane East complemented her voice really well. I enjoyed this narrator pairing a lot.
*I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this book*
Overall 3.5 stars
Performance 4.5 stars
Story 3 stars
This was a fun and quick novella with a unique meet cute. The airport dates between Ollie and Bennett were really sweet and I loved that Bennett was a romance writer. Having his fictional steamy scenes make their way into the bedroom was chef's kiss. I wasn't a fan of the conflict, but overall this was an enjoyable listen. The narration by January LaVoy was fantastic and Shane East complemented her voice really well. I enjoyed this narrator pairing a lot.
*I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this book*
June 10, 2022
Cute I guess, but also not wow. I liked the hero and his bumbling, the airport animal groomer just seemed bizarre to me. Decent narration.
July 29, 2025
Really cute xx love the concept
3.5 stars ✨
3.5 stars ✨
May 3, 2022
Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This was so cute! Nobody does it like Denise Williams. I love how even though the majority of this story takes place in an airport with Bennet flying in to meet Ollie every time they meet, the story never felt boring or repetitive. For a novella, there was still a well-rounded plot and character development from both ends, which is not surprising considering how great of a storyteller Denise Williams is. Gia definitely caught my eye as a side-character, though, and just from the first chapter of The Missed Connection that was included at the end of the ARC, I'm excited to read Gia and Felix's story next! 4.25 stars rounded up.
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This was so cute! Nobody does it like Denise Williams. I love how even though the majority of this story takes place in an airport with Bennet flying in to meet Ollie every time they meet, the story never felt boring or repetitive. For a novella, there was still a well-rounded plot and character development from both ends, which is not surprising considering how great of a storyteller Denise Williams is. Gia definitely caught my eye as a side-character, though, and just from the first chapter of The Missed Connection that was included at the end of the ARC, I'm excited to read Gia and Felix's story next! 4.25 stars rounded up.
Follow me on TikTok | Instagram | Twitter for more book reviews & recommendations!
July 22, 2022
4.5/5 Stars! The Love Connection was great! I was SO into it!
Novella’s are usually a hit or miss for me and this one was definitely a HIT! It was short and sweet and had a great amount of banter and steam.
The audio book was amazing the narrator’s did a great job! (that British accent was everything!!!) Ollie took a chance on love again after being hurt and I am happy she grew from her past! And Bennet is a freaking romance author who fell so hard and fast for Ollie!! I really enjoyed this story!
Novella’s are usually a hit or miss for me and this one was definitely a HIT! It was short and sweet and had a great amount of banter and steam.
The audio book was amazing the narrator’s did a great job! (that British accent was everything!!!) Ollie took a chance on love again after being hurt and I am happy she grew from her past! And Bennet is a freaking romance author who fell so hard and fast for Ollie!! I really enjoyed this story!
May 18, 2022
A delightful bite of an audiobook, perfect for your weekly commute. I loved the airport setting, the heroine reading the hero's romance novels (yes friends, he is a romance novelist!!), and the biscoff cookies. For being a novella length, the story was wonderfully succinct and the steam was amazing.
Really made me want to head to an airport!
Narrators were also fantastic, especially his. Phew!
than you to PRH for the advanced listening copy.
Really made me want to head to an airport!
Narrators were also fantastic, especially his. Phew!
than you to PRH for the advanced listening copy.
August 2, 2022
it was quick and a nice little inbetween palate cleanse before moving on to longer novels!! i probably will continue listening to the other novellas in this series but also debating on waiting as i saw they’ll be out in paperback in 2023 and i kinda read and comprehend books better when i physically read them. idk but i enjoyed it and these definitely have kept me busy while i wait for denise williams’s next novel!!
May 25, 2022
I love Denise Williams as an author and I freaking loved this novella!
THE LOVE CONNECTION was a great audio book! It had a good story, believable conflict, great characters, and a bit of steam.
Ollie is funny, smart, and hardworking and I just wanted to be her friend irl! And Bennett is swoony and so sweet. When a man in a gazillion dollar suit still helps you by grabbing the wet dog? Keep him.
I really loved the narrators of THE LOVE CONNECTION audiobook. I mean, Shane East could narrate a colonoscopy procedure snd I would still get hot. That msn's voice is EVERYTHING. And January LaVoy was also wonderful! Narrators make all the difference in audiobooks and these two are stellar.
I can't wait for the rest of this novella series!
𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: Rated PG-13 / Only 1 descriptive sex scene, may have harsh language.
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦: cheating ex
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦: 2/5 - A bit of drama, but still a pretty light read.
👇🏻𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗠𝗘 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘👇🏻
INSTAGRAM | YEAR OF SMUT CHALLENGEPq
THE LOVE CONNECTION was a great audio book! It had a good story, believable conflict, great characters, and a bit of steam.
Ollie is funny, smart, and hardworking and I just wanted to be her friend irl! And Bennett is swoony and so sweet. When a man in a gazillion dollar suit still helps you by grabbing the wet dog? Keep him.
I really loved the narrators of THE LOVE CONNECTION audiobook. I mean, Shane East could narrate a colonoscopy procedure snd I would still get hot. That msn's voice is EVERYTHING. And January LaVoy was also wonderful! Narrators make all the difference in audiobooks and these two are stellar.
I can't wait for the rest of this novella series!
𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: Rated PG-13 / Only 1 descriptive sex scene, may have harsh language.
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦: cheating ex
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦: 2/5 - A bit of drama, but still a pretty light read.
👇🏻𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗠𝗘 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘👇🏻
INSTAGRAM | YEAR OF SMUT CHALLENGEPq
May 27, 2022
2.5 ⭐️
meh. the premise was good, but this did not give. there was more chemistry between the mc and his best friend imo. ollies interaction with her ex was weird and random. and i was mostly bored. dissapointed because the mmc is a romance writer and i wanted to love it so bad
meh. the premise was good, but this did not give. there was more chemistry between the mc and his best friend imo. ollies interaction with her ex was weird and random. and i was mostly bored. dissapointed because the mmc is a romance writer and i wanted to love it so bad
August 22, 2022
Content doesn’t live up to superb narration. Boring, and I truly disliked the romance writer muse aspect. Read via audio (narrated by January LaVoy and Shane East).
Disclaimer: I listened to a free audiobook from the publisher (PRH Audio App) in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer: I listened to a free audiobook from the publisher (PRH Audio App) in exchange for an honest review.
December 31, 2023
3.5 stars ✨
It’s one thing to want a man who reads, but to meet one who writes and recommends books? YOU WINNING!!
A cute, feel-good read for those us of with connecting flights ✈️ 🥰
It’s one thing to want a man who reads, but to meet one who writes and recommends books? YOU WINNING!!
A cute, feel-good read for those us of with connecting flights ✈️ 🥰
May 2, 2022
This was a cute romance/airport novella!
I really liked the similarities and contrasts between the two main characters regarding their concerns/fears about risks. I didn't love the muse plot line but I did really enjoy how terribly awkward Bennet could be: it was so endearing! And hello Shane EAST?!
3.75/5 ⭐
I really liked the similarities and contrasts between the two main characters regarding their concerns/fears about risks. I didn't love the muse plot line but I did really enjoy how terribly awkward Bennet could be: it was so endearing! And hello Shane EAST?!
3.75/5 ⭐
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2022
Only Denise Williams could make me love a novella this much.
The Love Connection was somehow a whole ass novel in under 200 pages and I was here for it. It was exploratory, it was tender, it was steamy, it was just absolutely lovely. I adored it!
The Love Connection was somehow a whole ass novel in under 200 pages and I was here for it. It was exploratory, it was tender, it was steamy, it was just absolutely lovely. I adored it!
July 25, 2022
I can’t get enough of this author. Her characters are incredible and so dimensional. I will read anything by her!
I took off a star just because of the rushed ending. But probably was because this is just a novella!
I took off a star just because of the rushed ending. But probably was because this is just a novella!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 822 reviews