Wanderlust

by Lauren Blakely

[kimbacaffeinate]

Joy is newly arrived in Paris and works as a perfume developer. She is excited to be in the city and embarking on a new, wonderous chapter of her life. Griffin has one bag packed and is ready to move on to the next adventure, as soon as he finishes this last contract. Griffin is a translator who is working through the grief of losing his brother.

The two meet in a pastry shop, and there is an instant connection but a phone call intercepts their conversation. As fate would have it, the two meet again at a coffee shop; only they soon discover he will be her translator. Despite sparks, they agree to keep it professional as he helps her navigate securing her flat, the city and performing duties with her new employer.

A friendship develops between them but when Joy asks Griffin to help her learn the language and experience the city an innocent flirtation leads to delicious kisses. I adored Wanderlust. It was refreshing to see Blakely write a straight contemporary that pulled at my heartstrings and made me want to pack my bags and fly to Paris.

Because Griffin is set to leave, the romance has a time limit, and it made their developing romance bittersweet. Griffin's story and bucket list regarding his brother tugged at my heartstrings, as did the story of Joy's last relationship. I loved watching them confide in each other, build trust and develop a meaningful relationship beyond a sexual nature.

If you are a "foodie," I swear some of the chocolate, smells, and croissants discussed will leave you drooling. Make sure you have plenty of emergency chocolate on hand. 

Blakley brought the city of Paris to life from its cobbled streets to unique discoveries and gave us a beautiful romantic story. 

The story narrated by Grace Grant and Richard Armitage was delightful on audio. Do you love a man with an accent? Prepare to swoon. This pair was perfect for Joy and Griffin's dual narrations. From Joy's description of smells to Griffin's sexy thoughts their voices, tone, and pacing made listening pleasurable. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer