Thank you netgalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for allowing me to read this book. This was a great novella! I loved how different of a love story this was! It was so beautiful for Beau and April to fall for each other through deep late night conversations telepathically. I truly enjoyed the depth of the characters struggles and connection in such a short time. It gave me everything I could want in a novella!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Dani McLean for an ARC of this novella in exchange for an honest review.

The whole concept of how the characters communicate was really interesting to me and also refreshing as it was something so different.

However, being a novella, some aspects of the book did feel a little rushed to me.

Overall, an enjoyable read

"He catalogued each feature, slotting them in against everything he knew her to be--funny, shy, incredibly sharp, and loving. Her wide eyes sparkled with flashes of gold, her hair like gasoline to his heart. She was radiant, bursting with color and life."

What happens when you can hear someone in your head, but have no idea who they are? Beau Aaron Forrester and April Swan realize they can communicate with each other telepathically, but decide to keep their identities a mystery.

Being able to talk to someone so freely, without pressure, connects Beau and April in a way neither of them expected. They're quickly become each others support, comfort, and best friends while they're dealing the pressures their families and jobs are putting on them. They just have to figure out if this connection they're feeling is something that's real or all in their heads...

_______________

I have such a deep appreciation for The Movie Magic Novella series. Dani McLean created something that quite literally forces you to let go of any type of rationality or even reality. You have to live with the fact that there's magic and it's not something explained, just some razzle dazzle for a fun novella.

I adored Beau. He's your billionaire heir who is in line to take over the family business but has a stressful relationship with his father and doesn't want the life mapped out for him. Meanwhile, April has the job she's always wanted and has to fend off her mothers consistent matchmaking. A story like this has no choice but to have characters with strong communication, and I love it. They fell in love with each other before even meeting, and everything else just falls into place after.

I'm really excited for the rest of this series. Definitely something to pick up if you want a short novella, with soulmate type of attraction.

Thank you Netgalley, Victory Editing, and Dani McLean for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

-4.5 stars

The cover alone was enough to pique my interest, but the blurb had me HOOKED! The premise felt fresh and interesting, and left me questioning how I would react if I was suddenly telepathically linked to a stranger. The story gave me similar feels to all the angst-filled romance movies I loved in my youth. A fun, quick read to fill an afternoon!

I did leave this review on goodreads.

“Chance is a place where anything can (and frequently does) happen.”

This was a cute, quick romance, but for me I didn’t connect with Chance or the characters at all. I really wanted to love this book but some things just didn’t make sense for me and it didn’t hold my attention, but I appreciate the concept. A lover of simple, fun romances may enjoy this more!

*Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a heart warming short story. I absolutely loved it so much. The relationship between Beau and April was beautiful. It reminded me of a Hallmark romance. This was the perfect love at first sight, mind-communication story. I can’t wait to pick up more from Dan McLean!

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
A Missing Connection is part of the Movie Magic Novella Series and releases March 7, 2023

2.5

<i>“I’ve been existing, but you make me want to live.”</i>

- dual pov: Beau + April
- neighbouring office buildings with aligned windows
- telepathy
- billionaire
- steamy scenes

Beau and April are both lonely, workaholic adults that have a difficult time dating.
For Beau, it stems down to having a highly recognizable name and title that has others viewing him with preconceived opinions.

If you’re able to set aside reality for a quick hour then this is a decent read, but because of the way that I am, I just couldn’t stop analyzing little things even if the premise of this series is on magic and chance.

The gap from when they first laid eyes on each other through the aligned windows + being on the train, to then quite randomly speaking telepathically was abrupt.
The logic behind the telepathy didn’t make any sense — they could hear each other at odd intervals from talking aloud to other people, but what was stopping them from being able to hear every single word that was vocalized within a day? Why couldn’t it just been the inner dialogue between them instead?

Now this is just me, but I would never be able to flirt, let alone get wet or aroused from the sound of a literal stranger in my head on day one… and then for the mmc to say “I’m going to marry her” when it’s only been 2 months and they’ve never met in person? For two people that are really guarded towards dating, they seemed to have no issues here for whatever reason.

Also, why did April shed so much hair?

<i>A Missing Connection</i> by Dani McLean is a fast read with plenty of rom-com shenanigans.

When <b>Beau</b> and <b>April</b> start to hear each other’s voices in their heads, they quickly form a friendly relationship with flirtation, encouragement, and anonymity. Unsure of who the other is, they agree to keep it “casual”.

Now, from the author’s note in the beginning, I know magical things happen in this town, but Beau and April accepted they could suddenly hear each other WAY too fast. Literally after one sentence they’ve accepted it and started reading each other. I was shocked.

The banter between the characters seemed to waver between funny and forced. Both characters had issues with their parents that seemed to be a driving force for their connection. The conflicts did end up feeling a bit shallow, but I think it’s just because the novella didn’t have time to flesh out the introduced ideas.

Overall, the story was cute. I really liked the concept of them communicating with each other through their connection, and it was easy to accept it happened because that’s just how it goes.

★★★

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this ARC of <i>A Missing Connection</i> by Dani McLean.

Rating: 4 stars ⭐️
Tropes: soul mates ✨
instant connection 💋

The novella really suprised me in a good way!

This short story was about April and Beau and their connection that they had from the moment they saw each other!

It’s a fun read! 🌟

Thank you to Victory Editing and Netgalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This novella was cute and quick, with a fun premise and likeable characters. That said, I do wish that the logistics of the ‘talking to each other’ had been fleshed out a bit more.

The idea of being able to talk to each other without knowing who you’re talking to is fun. It reminded me of the ‘Force Skype calls’ between Rey and Kylo Ren in Star Wars. There’s always that added bit of will they/won’t they and hoping they figure out who their mystery partner is.

That said, I do wish the logistics of this ability were fleshed out a bit more. This novella was billed as a standalone, however there isn’t much world building to help solidify this type of happening as realistic to the location. The authors note does mention things can and do happen in this city, but it’s never talked about in the actual novella. Later in the book when they’re explaining to friends/family, no one seems overly shocked about this ability. Even something as simple at the start like ‘I’ve heard of this ability!’ or ‘isn’t this just a legend?’ I think would have helped greatly in establishing credibility. Also we never really get a defined sense of when/how this ability works. Is it all the time? Only at specifics points? It’s never clarified and it leaves it confusing for the reader since I assumed it was an open channel, but that would present problems later when either one were talking and giving away identifying details, but the other didn’t pick up.

On the whole it’s a cute premise but I just wish that a bit more detail had been given. I feel like it would have been a bit more enjoyable if established parameters for their ability were in place.

Thanks very much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.

April and Beau are two stranger who discover that they can speak telepathically with each other . They speak about everything they want but they don't share their last name . Beau is going to take to place as CEO at the family business because his father is dying . He doesn't want to but he has to . While talking they develope feelings . When they learn who they really are will they still want to be together ?
I received this book from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own .

Feel-good, cute, funny rom-com - think a telepathic version of 'You've Got Mail'! Solid characters and amusing while avoiding the slapstick some of these books can lead to. Just cute fun, and a quick read, a posotive emotion HEA any time.

A Missing Connection by Dani McLean is a cozy, soft and cute romance novella. The whole story idea is fantastic and it gives you loads of room to imagine and enjoy.

The story moves between the sole heir to Forrester empire Beau Aaron Forrester and a beautiful young lady called April Swan. Beau has the company to inherit as his father is 70 year-old and wants his son to take over it. Apparently the name of Forrester is huge to take care of, with thousands of staff and Beau has the pressure to keep the reputation.

And April works in digital side which she hates the idea of being settle down. She loves to stay in the office, just be herself.

Interestingly, Beau and April have never met but oddly enough they are able to feel each other in their mind. While Beau is really tired of people come close to him because of his last name Forrester. They make the conversation telepathically and support each other without knowing who other is.

A Missing Connection to me is different from other Romance genre I have read. Unpredictable, refreshing and page-turning romantic story.

I absolutely loved this ARC! Fell in love instantly with Beau and April! He finally had someone on his side despite how opposite they are!!! The part where they communicate through their mind scared me that I wasn’t going to enjoy this yet I was so incredibly wrong and made this novella so much more enjoyable !!