The Christine + Jake Affair

by Morgan Parker

Katie discovers an unlocked iPhone in the back seat of a taxi. But instead of turning it in to the driver as lost, she decides to keep it for herself.

Outside of the usual clutter you would expect to find on a smartphone, what captures Katie's interest is the single conversation she finds on the phone's secure text messaging service, a three-month dialogue between a woman with an uncertain past named Christine and a single, eligible man named Jake.

From Strangers to Soulmates in 90 Days

What starts out as a message intended for someone else ends up being the beginning of a relationship more powerful than anything Christine or Jake have ever experienced.

But nothing ever turns out to be as good as it initially seems and their histories slowly reveal details and past lovers that threaten to derail their humble quest for love.

Forgotten In The Back Seat of a New York City Taxi

Can Christine and Jake overcome the seemingly insurmountable obstacles, doubts and secrets that endanger their love?

If so, why would such a relationship get forgotten in the back seat of a New York City taxi?

Presented in a Format Unlike Any Other You Will Find

Follow Katie as she reads through the 3 months of conversations that form The Christine + Jake Affair and provide the foundation for the Textual Encounters Trilogy.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Amazon

220 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 10, 2012

About the author

Morgan Parker is the pen name for a shy and introverted former banker. Given the nature of his former career and his unique childhood upbringing in a trendy, white-collar town West of Toronto, Mr. Parker made up plenty of stories to stay employed and to avoid the responsibilities of adulthood. His novels are a product of those stories.

Mr. Parker believes that all great novels involve realistic characters, motives and love stories. He tries (really hard) to emulate his favorite authors while writing his own novels. He stresses that all of his tales and characters are fictional in nature and welcomes all kinds of feedback, even the worst kind, so that he might continue to develop and grow as an author.

When Mr. Parker isn't writing, he likes to read and watch movies. As a serial napper, he has been known to convert corporate prayer rooms and quiet areas into common siesta zones. He believes in hibernation.

Reviews

[Splage · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review posted to: Swept Away By Romance

3 Stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Heat Barometer: 2 out of 5 flames

If you are looking to try something “out of the box”, this could be it. It is a whole different twist to a traditional romance book between a hero and heroine. It comes alive through Katie, a person on the outside looking in as she reads the text of intimate conversations that take place over three months through a phone she finds in a taxi. It was very exciting to hear the initial meetings of Jake and Christine (the unknown H&h) getting to know each other through text and to see the progression of their relationship as they meet, their growing love and finally, as they realize they are fated soul mates.

Textual Encounters was a such a Cool Concept, but because the whole idea was a little out there it missed the mark for me and left me wanting. I was confused trying to keep up with whom was actually texting the conversation at the time. I thought the story line really picked up speed when Christine and Jake physically connected, but I craved to know what was happening when they were together. I needed that hole to be filled with a description, but that was an impossible obstacle to overcome consistently because of the “text telling” storyline.

The author was creative in finding ways to let us readers experience what was going on when they were together. One was Jake and Christine had to be quiet when they were sitting next to each other so they weren’t overheard; therefore, they communicated through text. The story still did have some twists and a few shockers that made me feel the emotions, but the impact wasn’t as strong through text messages.

I know texting is the “now” and I am a mad text-er, but texting has killed a lot of human emotions eliminating the real live voice and I think that is the same result that happened with my connection to this book. That being said, the younger generation who ONLY know the world with texting might grab this book and love it.

With the way the ending left me with my tongue hanging out I do plan on reading book 2 so I can find out what happens next.

**ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**

[SueBee★bring me an alpha!★]

FREE today on Amazon US (3/1/2013).

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 What Just Happened Here? Stars

This book came highly recommended by my friends at www.theindiebookshelf.com. After reading it I wonder if they like me or just like to torture me.



Katie finds a cell phone in the back of a cab. She thinks about turning it over to the driver, but then decides that she deserves it more than the orginal owner. As she is scrolling through the apps, she finds a text conversation that has been going on for months. So naturally she reads it. Yeah I would read it too. No judgements here. At first, these 2 people have hooked up through text and have a long distance flirtation. That goes on for most of the book.

Now I am hooked. Are they going to get together? Will she come to NYC? Is he trying too hard? Katie, remember her, the narrator? She is just like us. She is taking off work to read these texts. Hooked on reading an electronic device...hummm..sound familiar? All of this flirtation, true love talk, making plans, sharing their past, and disappointing each other is revealed over several months. Yes you are hooked, but you think you have it figured out and the only question at the end will be...Did they get together? Enter the confusion and failure to process. I won't give it away but there is a definate break in the order of things. A seismic shift. A true...What the Hell Moment. Then you are left with no choice but to buy the sequel.

A truly different read. A (pardon the pun) novel idea. Well done Mr. Parker. I wonder how much time you spend spying on others on the subway, in line at the grocery store, etc. You have a nack for noisiness that I can't help but admire.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this book and it sounded interesting when I came across it. Not my usual full-on steam/romance but still a different read.

Katie finds an unlocked iPhone on the back seat of a cab and proceeds to read a conversation that goes on between two people(Christine & Jake). From their initial accidental first text, a relationship blossoms. It is written in text form over a series of days and months.

I enjoyed the read and it had a few twists along the way. There is a cliff hanger!

3 1/2 - 4 stars

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katie catches a taxi and quickly finds an iPhone left in the back seat by the previous occupant. At first thought, she wants to hand it to the driver to put in the lost and found, but her curiosity gets the best of her and she quickly decides to see what secrets the phone holds. Besides, she has wanted an iPhone for a while…if the previous owner didn’t care enough to watch after the phone, Katie would be more than happy to.

Textual Encounters is an incredibly fast, easy read. It is told mainly in the format of text messages sent back and forth between Christine and Jake. Katie returns home and begins to read the conversation between the two strangers, which all started with a text sent to the wrong person. What happens over the course of a couple of months, is a long, sordid, sexual affair between two very dysfunctional people. Christine is obviously keeping secrets, and Jake seems to be looking for more than Christine is willing, or able, to give him.

Reading Textual Encounters feels intimately voyeuristic. It also feels as though we the reader, much like Katie, don’t get the whole story, because we don’t have a narrator that gives us what is going on between the text sessions. This is a very effective plot device, however the jury is still out whether or not I like it. It leaves so much to the imagination that sometimes it feels like too much. There is little room for character development because the characters aren’t really present, per se. We learn a little about Katie, but not really enough to come to any conclusions about her, especially about what her motives are at the end of the book.

I give Textual Encounters four stars, based on the originality alone. There have been several well-known books that have used emails or text messages as a part of the narrative, but this is the first time I have read a work based mostly on texts alone. Unfortunately I am the type of person that requires a lot of depth, not only of the characters, but also of the storyline, and I feel that because of the way this story is told, that depth is just lacking. Hopefully in the next installment, Textual Encounters 2, we’ll learn more about each of the players.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this is one of those books that sucks you in; and immediately!! The storyline is refreshingly unique, which is a huge plus for me personally, and the writing flowed with believable ease. This new author is one to watch as he tells his story mostly through witty text messages between Christine and Jake, but their relationship becomes much more than just texting. The connection between these two is an emotional and sexy ride for the reader, and yet another reason I hated to even temporarily put it down.

It's been a while since I've admitted to devouring a book; this one, I did! It's funny, it's clever and I am standing here wishing I could gobble up book two. (Gotta wait until May 2013) - Dang!!

No matter...I had a blast!

[Aussie Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am on the fence with this.

I have read sample after sample of rubbish for the last week then stumbled upon this. It kept me interested and it was quite good but I don't have the urge to buy the second one. It was well written and I always love text messages in books as they have the potential to say so much in a compact way and be quite witty.
Spoiler alert!
I think whilst the format was good the actual meetings and conversations they had and moments shared when they met in Canada or NYC could have been a part of the story and given us breaks from the constant texting - this would help with our connection with the characters.

[Shanyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Communication. It’s often the factor that makes or breaks a relationship. And it’s probably the hardest thing for people to learn. Luckily in this day and age there are not only a plethora of modes of communication, but there are also many different levels of acceptable communication. There’s electronic communication, face-to-face, nonverbal, gifts, writing – there are tons of ways to convey your thoughts to those important to you, no matter the message. But regardless of the myriad of ways we all have with which to communicate, if the other person disappears, it doesn’t matter how well you communicate or how creative your methods. If there’s no one there to talk to, you’re all alone.

This book is told primarily through text messages between two people – Jake and Christine – who meet through a wrong number text, take it as fate and start chatting. What began as idle chatter quickly morphs into a deeper connection. I never in a million years expected to get so invested in two characters that I only know through what they choose to tell each other. There’s no inner monologue, there’s no outside reference points to give you context for their actions or words, there’s not even a real description of what either of them look like. And yet, I was still completely sucked into their burgeoning relationship.

I wanted them to work. I wanted Christine to move from Toronto back to New York City to be with Jake. I wanted them to ride off into the sunset. It wasn’t until the end of the book that I really realized how totally wrapped up in these characters I had become. How much I wanted them to work out. Jake is so willing to throw his heart out there and put it all on the line and Christine is so funny, sassy and sweet. It was also at the end though that I started feeling like there was an undercurrent that hadn’t been fully defined yet. There’s a building mystery between these two people and the lives we know so little about that glides next to them, popping its head above water occasionally enough to make you stop mid-sentence and wonder what just happened.

Morgan Parker has written a fully unexpected book. I didn’t expect to find such depth in something as one-dimensional as text messages. I didn’t expect to be as invested in the characters. I didn’t expect this story to engage so many parts of me – hopeless romantic, intellect and passion. And I certainly didn’t expect the story to have the twists and turns it ends up with.

Parker is exquisitely talented in stripping down interpersonal communication to its bare bones without stripping away any of its meaning. He uses short, straightforward sentences to tell a story chock full of heart and that is an extraordinary talent. He has managed, through some sort of previously undiscovered literary magic, to create characters that weave their into you as you read their middle of the night texts and sit in suspense waiting for the other to respond.

Let yourself be swept away in this book. Let yourself get irrationally involved in these characters. Let Morgan Parker woo you with his words.

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not come across such a 'smart' book since Tarryn Fisher's The Opportunist.
Based entirely on the texting conversations between the two primary characters, Textual Encounters is brilliant. There are not many books that base their entire story without any inner monologue. Therefore, you are left with the dialogue alone to convey meaning, feelings and tone. Throughout the conversations, which occur over a three-month span, you find yourself adding to your list of questions and not being able to find all the answers. There are times when you second guess the intentions of the characters. There are also times, you find yourself wondering why the F wouldn't they just call instead of texting so they could clear the air. And with that notion in mind, I sat back to try to surmise why they wouldn't actually physically call and speak with each other-- Is it because they have something to hide and would be found out through their voice? Or is it mere convenience and laziness to put forth the effort? Or is it the feelings that resonate within them are so strong and built on that one fateful moment that if they give up texting, all they have built will crumble?
Textual Encounters is considered to be a novella. I am generally not fond of them but this absolutely left me with a dropped jaw. I can't tell you enough how much I enjoyed this story and how in the simplicity of the story, there was this complexity that I'm still trying to wrap my head around.
I have to say, Morgan Parker left us with the mother of all cliff hangers. And knowing that there is another instalment just around the corner did not ease the impact of this cliffhanger. Wow! It opened up a whole new bag of questions and completely messed with my head.
Morgan Parker's Textual Encounters was a very cool read! I absolutely would recommend this book.

[Kate Givans · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I’d been shopping for a new book, I probably would have passed this one up. Generally, I stay away from novellas because I prefer longer stories. And if it were left up to me to classify Textual Encounters, I’d place it in the chick lit romance genre – definitely not my genre of choice. But I am so honored to have been one of the first people to ever read it.

Textual Encounters definitely has a lot of things going for it: it’s original, the characters are very likable and the writing style of the author is very enjoyable, which made the pages turned very quickly for me.

This story is told mostly through text messages between “fated” lovers, which made it unlike anything I’ve ever read. Plus, the fact that the author was able to take me through the highs and lows of Jake and Christine’s relationship with little more than text messages back and forth…well, that tells me Morgan’s got some serious writing talent.

I fell in love with the characters instantly. Christine has just enough snarkiness to make her witty but not so much that she’s rude or unlikable. Jake won me over quickly. He is the kind of guy that any girl would love to fall in love with. And Katie…well, Katie makes only a couple of appearances throughout the story but I already love her sense of humor.

I think I finished book one in less than a day, and I enjoyed every minute of it! I can’t wait to get my hands on book two and find out what happens next! Morgan is definitely an author to look for in the future.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book and am going to try to keep 1 and 2 straight in my head as I write up my review because there is a huge difference in how I feel about the characters in each book.

In Textual Encounters we have Katie – who to me seems a tad self-entitled – finds a iPhone in the back of a cab. Instead of doing the right thing, trying to find the owner, she takes it as a sign from the universe that she is supposed to have an iPhone instead of her old phone. At her age and in med school she should probably stop worrying about what her mommy and daddy buy her and concentrate on her studies, maybe providing things for herself, etc. That right there gives us a preview of Katie’s moral compass, which will see more of throughout both books.

Christine and Jake “meet” by an accidental wrong text sent by Jake to Christine. I liked both of these characters to begin with, but after a few incidents, I started to wish that Christine’s story would just come out already because something was a bit off about her.

I really liked Jake and was rooting for his happiness. It felt like he was all in with with Christine and I just wanted something to finally work for him.

One might ask how I might love this book when I didn’t like 2 out of 3 characters. I didn’t need to like them in this one. I was completely absorbed in the texts and wanting things to be good for Jake.

Definitely a different style book and an excellent read.

[Jessica Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a FREAKING brilliant way to write a book! Morgan is a genius...he will deny it, but don't listen to him!

What would you do if you found a phone abandon in the back or cab. And not some junky flip phone an iPhone, the one you have been wanting for months. You contemplate with your morals and then it beeps with an incoming message. Would you read it?

Katie was faced with these same decisions. Feeling that no one would have "misplaced" an iPhone if they truly treasured it they would have checked before they got out of the cab, right? And then it beeped. Curiosity is just something human nature can't avoid and Katie was human after all. Opening it she read the first two messages...the first two messages that would lead to a slight obsession and a need to know.

Who was Christine? Soul mates?

Join Katie's curiosity as you read the texts between Jake and Christine, as your own "need to know" obsession blooms. All leading to a decision Katie must make. Does she text back? Does she ignore all that she had just read and erase it all?

I could not stop till the end and even then I went right into the second and finished both within 6hours! LOVED IT!

Book Flirts by Jessi
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[Ellen Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd been in a bit of a book slump, not being able to really get into a book properly, reading bits at a time here and there. And then I decided to read Textual Encounters.....

From the second the text messages started, I was hooked. It was like something clicked inside my brain, I just wanted to know more of the story of these two people and whether they would get the happy ever after they deserved.

Jake was a loveable guy, if not a bit of an intense control freak at times, but his heart was in the right place and you wanted him to be happy.

Christine was an intriguing character who you wanted to champion on but you were never quite sure what would happen next with her. She was guarded at times and like many women, didn't always know whether to take that leap of faith for a man, especially one she had only just met.

There were some serious twists, each of them had their secrets and I'm still curious as to how everything will work out because you don't get all of the answers you need at the end of this book. I'll definitely be buying book two!

If you're looking for a fast paced read with a few bumps and twists along the way, then this is definitely for you. It's taken me less than 24 hours to read and I can't wait to get stuck in to the next one!

[Isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice surprise :)

Someone finds a smartphone left in a taxi, and (lucky!) is unblocked, and what it is any reader's dream: there is inside a real story between two people (I guess is like finding an original painting in an antique shop). This would be the 21st Century version of an epistolary novel, and even better because it's fast paced and straightforward, without the long divagations and ramblings that actual letters would have.

The fact of being written as text messages got me hooked as much as the story between Jake and Christine. The story itself started well, although it got a bit complicated on the last third of the book, at some point you stop being a 'voyeur' and become a reader, it loses the 'freshness', the authenticity that traps you at the beginning. But all in all, you just cannot stop reading it, eager to find out how this first text sent to the wrong number ends.

I have to say also I read this book in the wrong order, meaning, I read it after finishing 'Non friction'. It's not a big deal, in fact I actually enjoyed discovering that the acclaimed 'Sextual Encounters' novel actually exists!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever want to read the texts between two lovers? This is a voyeuristic novella with a cliffhanger.

Katie finds an iPhone in the back of the cab and wants to keep it, but then decides after seeing a couple of texts come through that she wants to read the texts between "Jake" and "Christine".

This relationship is interesting to watch "progress" but these two hardly know each other and as the texting continues, it's clear that there's more than meets the text between these two lovers.

I liked this because it's clear that both of these two "morons" (how the author himself describes them) have issues that we'll never learn about except through text or through Katie if she ever gets a conscience and lets someone know she found this iPhone! Don't expect to find a book boyfriend in Jake or to fall in love with Christine. These are two characters who seem to be deeply flawed.

This is a cliffhanger... And I'm hoping that all of my questions get resolved!

I also loved the chapters at the end of the book that are seemingly based on the author's life -- which become the book Non-friction.

[Martin Skate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book. Textual Encounters reels you in from the very start, it awakens the voyeur in all of us, who wouldn't want to read these texts! Parker has taken such a cool take on the romance tale and injected it with a fresh perspective on the boy meets girl story. This book is surely very popular with the texting & internet generation, and reminded me of the first few times that I was introduced to texts, chat rooms, and the messenger tools that are now so common. The pace of the story is fast, the characters intriguing, which all adds up to you wanting to read this book all in one take - like receiving texts - you want to read it all instantly. Congrats to Morgan Parker on a fantastic book & I look forward to reading more from the author.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would never have thought that reading a book made up of text messages would pull me in like this one did, but it did. In fact, I had trouble putting it down so that I could live my life as I wanted to just sit in my chair & vegetate reading it until the conclusion.

The text messages between Jake & Christine are priceless. Each day (chapter) I wanted more from both of the characters. Would they commit to each other or just keep up the text messaging & hookups?

The ending kicked me in the teeth. I wanted more & will get it I am sure with TE2 & then TE3. I can't wait to see what will evolve with these 2 characters! Keep up the great work Morgan!

I left a message for Morgan on his FB page as he loves hearing from his fans!

[CDBW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, I know, it's about time I've gotten around to finally reading Morgan Parker's books. I'm SMH wondering what took me so long and why didn't I make more of an effort? I can now say that I'm OFFICIALLY a fan of MP!

I was a little hesitant when I saw the format of the book but I quickly forgot about my hangup because I was sucked in right away. I read it in one day while hanging out by the pool. Yup, it makes a great pool/beach/wherever read.

I really loved how I was able to connect with the characters. That was a very pleasant surprise given my initial hesitation.

If you're looking for a crazy awesome unique read, grab this now!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. This is such an original, interesting idea for a story line. Not only is the whole thing basically written with no internal dialogue -- just simple text messages, but it's also told from an outsider's perspective. So she's trying to figure out the story right along with the reader.

It's a quick read that sucks you right in. I couldn't put it down, and toward the end - Bam - everything seems to turn on its ear! Thank goodness that the second book is out already because there is no way I could wait to find out what happens next.

Definitely take a chance on this one.

[Lisa Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first came across this book, I thought it was a cute gimmick, but how interesting could it be when told almost exclusively through text messages? Cut to a couple of hours later when I'm still paging through this sucker, trying to figure out the twists and turns Morgan Parker takes us through. Not only did he capture my interest, he had me instantly ponying up to buy the next one. If you're looking for a quick, fun read and an interesting peek into a modern day romance with enough surprises to keep you guessing, give this one a chance.

[Manda Crowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know how I feel about this. Well I guess I do because I gave it four stars and I zipped right through it without putting it down. I loved the idea of the text message of the story. I got to the ending....if you haven't read it yet STOP HERE!!!












...and I'm confused by the end! The mystery of all this. Who the F is Christine? The entire hospital scene and then fast forward to Katie and Jake...I'm so confused. I suppose I will now be reading the sequel and hoping for some answers. In the meantime I will continue to scratch my head in wonder.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Bright Stars for Originality

When I first read the blurb about the book, I thought the concept of someone finding a cell phone and reading the text messages of a couples burgeoning romance was intriguing . I was a little skeptical if a book consisting of just text messages and no actual physical interaction could work. I was pleasantly surprised! Not only did it work it was effing perfection. It had a little of everything humor, romance, intrigue, suspense ! I highly recommend this book if you are someone who likes to break free from the cookie cutter , recycled garbage that's out there.

[Dustyloup · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a unique twist on a romance novel, seeing the story unfold through texts plus the layer of another person's perspective. It's like a Russian doll of perspectives: Jake's, Christine's, Katie's, and then your own - plus there's Rachel and Christine's "abusive husband" to boot. And you can't even know what happens to Jake and Christine when they're together, we just see the textual aftermath. The characters are really unlikeable - and they get more unlikeable in book two. I liked it so much, I bought the sequel.

[Lariza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good premise though the story got somewhat confusing for me with all the texts! Jake and Christine's relationship began in an unconventional manner and progressed very quickly over the course of texting. It was apparent from the beginning both were hiding things and I wanted to find out more!! Katie was engrossed in their relationship and was falling for Jake-- that is sure to make the next book quite interesting. Overall I did enjoy the story I just want all the questions answered!

[Carissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting concept, but I feel the emotions of the book were lost because the reader never witnesses any physical interaction between Jake and Christine. I also had a hard time determining who was sending each text. If you're looking for something different and a fast read, this book may be for you. I read it in one sitting in about an hour. I may read the second book just to see what happens, but I am not in any rush to do so.

[Andrea Mcbride · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story! So exciting I just wanted to see how it was going to end! And it's a really different storyline! The only problem I had with this was the text messages. They got kinda confusing! They need names by who's texting who! I was getting confused ! Who lived in Toronto who lived in New York? ( I figured it out half way who lived where) and It got better towards the end ! But if there were names with the text it would have been so much easier to read!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a refreshing and unique concept! I enjoyed the format of this book so much. Maybe I'm a closet voyeur! The text messages seemed so intimate, even more than the actual meetings between the characters. While I didn't love Katie, I probably would have done the same thing after discovering a phone in a cab. I really wanted Jake to win the girl in this one.

It was definitely fun and witty. A quick and engaging read!

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jake loves Christine(well that is her name now) - I love how they meet by a mixed up text message. Katie finds Christine's phone in a cab and reads the developing love story between Jake and Christine - however things happen that keep pulling them apart - what is Christine's story??? Katie wants to find out and truthfully so do I - can't wait for the next book!!

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Textual Encounters by Morgan Parker is a unique look at the wonderful world of texting. I really enjoyed this book and cannot even imagine how difficult it was to write. No background, descriptions, nothing. Just a story line that unfolded through anonymous texts. Loved it. Did not put it down...and rolled right in to book 2.

[seasalt · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars.

Wew I liked it, this book was unique.

Mostly, the book was about message conversation. I just got a little bit of explanation about Jake, Christine and even Katie! Because too short!

So I read about those two strangers: Christine and Jake. From random text it changes become a complicated relationship.
I liked it, felt real, odd, sexy and yeah I know how it works. So I give 4 stars.