Charm City

By: Monica McCallan

Narrated by: Lori Prince

Taylor Tate has one last chance to turn things around. As the owner of Charm City Events, she needs her upcoming week of Valentine's Day events to go off without a hitch. She's painstakingly planned every detail down to the last red heart decoration, but what Taylor doesn't plan on is the less than enthusiastic bar manager she's paired with stumbling into her life at the worst possible time, making things more difficult every step of the way.

Carson Smith is getting by fine. She loves her job as the bar manager at Second Chances, a dive bar staple of the Baltimore landscape, and she doesn't need anything or anyone disrupting the delicate balance she's created. Especially for a stupid Valentine's gimmick to take advantage of desperate singles. When the owner of the bar forces her to work with an event planning company to drum up business, she has no choice but to begrudgingly agree. It's either play along or see the bar close, and she can't let that happen.

It's only a week, but time passes differently when there's love in the air and too much on the line, and both women soon find their lives, and hearts, intertwined as they work together to make the week a success.

Contains mature themes.

©2019 Monica McCallan (P)2023 Tantor

Charmingly Done 🥰

Let me begin by saying that I could listen to Lori Prince read the ingredients on the contents of a can of beans and give it a 5 star rating.
I only wish she would narrate longer romances.
As for Charm City it is a very Charming “little romance” built on the concept that a frozen heart can be thawed by the right person.
While this is not the classic “A Christmas Carol”, it is worthy of 5 Valentines Cards”.
If you have just broken up with someone, this is the perfect audio-card to listen to, to get you back on the romance horse to happiness.

Great Listen!!

I was, at first, a little leary of this book because of the synopsis, but I'm glad I listened to it anyway! This story is so POSSIBLE that I found myself tearing up at the authenticity and heartfelt emotions that Lori brings to the performance. But in order for her to do that, there must first be the words to read. Monica McCallan did a wonderful job with this short story, and I consider 5 1/2 hours short compared with some I've listened to. Spend the credit or the money and get this book! You won't be disappointed!

Ughhh the cutest Valentine’s Day romance

Charm City by Monica McCallan was such a cute sapphic romance. Whether you love valentines day or hate it you will identify with one of the FMC’s

Carson Smith is the bar manager at second chances in Baltimore. A small dive bar that has not been showing the numbers needed to stay open. The owner of the bar designs this last shot plan to see if they can drum up the business they need. Charm city events owned by local event planner Taylor Tate is going to help them host a whole week of events leading up to Valentine’s Day. The catch? The owner expects Carson, our grumpy tattooed babe behind the bar to smile and play nice with Ms. Blonde and bubbly designer stilettos.

This book was so much fun from the moment they met, through the events and all the way to the epilogue. The events that Taylor designs are so unique and meant to be so low pressure that even Carson might not hate them. Which is wild because the only things she doesn’t hate are this bar, her favorite diner and Blake, her gay BFF and bartender extraordinaire.

If you love making craft cocktails then you will love Monica’s attention to detail with all of the drink recipes scattered around the book. They also have some hilarious names that are used in such creative ways. Also, there is this one scene, well let’s just say I have never wanted to be a cherry so badly.

The tension between these two is palpable, as if you were watching these events play out in real time. Also, I wanted to strangle Carson because there is this event that is kind of a turning point. You as the reader will want to scream at her to take her head out of her ass.

I just wanted to hug Taylor. Her story was equal parts heart breaking and empowering for me. I loved her attitude throughout this whole book. Though I’m definitely more like Carson I saw parts of myself as an entrepreneur in Taylor.

The audiobook is narrated by Lori Prince and she did such a great job with these characters, especially Carson’s annoyed attitude and Taylor’s light musical voice. So enjoyable! It’s included in audibles plus catalog if you want to check it out!


My fave Monica McCallan book to date!

Fantastic story, caused real tears

I can’t believe it. The story actually caused me to cry 😢. The story was great, enough problems and inventive solutions to keep it interesting. Lori Prince as usual was superb.

Cute and simple.

This story was good but it left me wanting more detail. I feel that the basic storyline was great but I would have love to have had more detail and depth.

As always very sweet

This author is very predictable, however each story is so sweet you can’t stop listening… ever!!! I loved this story.

Cute but..

It was a cute story but my biggest thought after listening to it was counseling for both parties please in the epilogue. I felt that the love was more one sided and that Carson had some serious abandonment issues and Taylor also had serious issues she needed professional help for.

Cute

It was cute, a little predictable and it felt like it dragged a bit, but overall nice and romantic

I was right to get this book trusting the narrator

I don’t know if narrators choose the book they narrate, but nevertheless there are few narrators and Lori Prince amongst them that if they narrate I get it… and I was right to do that. This was a good book with well written MC and narration was excellent….

Sweet and Lovely Storyline and Performance

Loved it! The narrator has a great voice. loved the side characters (friends). Yes to romcom