This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite
Locking Down Love by Luis Ammerman takes place in a small Vermont town during the pandemic lockdown. Readers are introduced to Bill Cox, a quiet English professor living alone, and his neighbor, Amy Hoover, a hardworking diner employee. His carefully structured, solitary life begins to feel heavier as the silence around him grows. She is barely making ends meet from working so few hours, and on top of it all, she’s sick. One day, Amy smiles at Bill from her porch, but when she coughs, the moment lingers with him. This happens more than once, and he becomes concerned for her. Bill decides to venture out to the local grocery store to get items for a care package. Once back home, he nervously leaves the items on her doorstep with a note containing his number. From there, a relationship begins to grow through texts, video calls, and shared daily routines, all while they remain physically apart. As they continue learning about each other, their connection gradually deepens into something neither of them expected. Can a connection that starts at a distance turn into something more?
Once I began Locking Down Love by Luis Ammerman, I couldn’t put it down until I finished it. The writing made it really easy to picture what was happening. A good example of this is when Bill was grading papers while Amy was folding laundry during one of their video calls. I appreciated the focus on small, meaningful moments, which allowed the relationship to progress naturally. Bill and Amy felt real to me since they both had to move beyond their past experiences to allow someone in. I found myself looking forward to their conversations and the little routines they created, like cooking “together” or doing a crossword puzzle. I also felt connected to them, having lived through the pandemic as they did. This helped me to understand some of their anxieties. Overall, this is a thoughtful read that has stayed with me. Anyone who enjoys a gentle, slow-building love story will appreciate this one.
