Review: What the Heart Wants by Tiana Laveen

 Can one heart change the lives of many?

Ambitious financial planner Emily Windsor is the golden child of an elite New York family. Proud of her family roots, she disdains those who are different from her and embraces her entitled, wealthy lifestyle. Emily feels her life is perfect until her congenital heart condition is pronounced terminal and she’s given just months to live.

Cameron Davis is an outspoken, mixed-race social activist. His greatest joy is his soulmate, Brooke Coleman, an up-and-coming New York City jazz singer who's as talented as she is kind. But his life and heart are shattered when Brooke is killed. As her heart gives its last beat, it is quickly readied for transplant—her final act of selflessness.

As one life ends, another begins. After Emily receives Brooke’s heart, her worldview begins to change—almost as if Brooke has also given Emily a piece of her soul. As Emily struggles to understand her new thoughts and feelings, she turns to Cameron for guidance. Can love shine its light once more on two broken hearts?

 

My Review:

A life changing, emotional romance.

I was hooked on this book from the very start.  I thought I knew how the story would play out, but I was so wrong.  I found myself intrigued by the story and it took me through so many emotions.  This book is more than just a romance.  It also covers a lot of social issues that people are facing in our country right now.  

When I first started reading, I didn't like Emily because of her sense of entitlement and her less than desirable personality.  But after her heart transplant, she changed drastically.  She was now seeing the good in the people she previously disliked and judged.  She also started taking on some of the traits of her donor.  This all became clearer when Emily met Cameron, Emily's heart donor's boyfriend.  He answered a lot of questions Emily had been wondering about.  I enjoyed seeing Emily and Cameron's friendship grow into a romance.  I also liked how Cameron opened Emily's eyes to what his people were going through. This is my first book from this author and it definitely won't be the last.

 

Review: Montana Cowboy Daddy (Wyatt Brothers of Montana #3) by Jane Porter

 

Professional rodeo cowboy Billy Wyatt is in the prime of his career. He’s having a fantastic year on the circuit, earning big money and leading the standings. Too immersed in his success and enjoying bachelorhood, he's not interested in getting serious. But when a woman he’s never seen before shows up with a baby she claims is his, Billy's world is turned inside out.

Erika Baylor, a PhD grad student, never planned to be a single mom, but when her cousin dies in a car accident, orphaning her infant son, Erika steps forward. She’ll help to care for her 4-month-old nephew until the baby can be reunited with his dad. She doesn’t expect the dad to be cocky, infuriating, and utterly irresistible.

Billy never thought he wanted to be a father, but looking into the eyes of the baby who is supposedly his—and whose blue eyes mirror his own—he’s hooked. But he’s hooked on the woman who’s holding the baby too…

 

My Review:

An emotionally charged romance.

Billy Wyatt's life is turned upside down when Erika Baylor shows up with a baby and informs him that he is the father. The mother was Erika's cousin who died in a car accident leaving Erika to raise her son, Beck.  But being a student, Erika doesn’t have the time or money to raise a baby, so she sets out to find the father.   Billy is willing to raise Beck, but he needs a little help while he recovers from a rodeo injury.

As they spend time at Billy's Utah home, Erika starts to fall for Billy's charm, but she knows it could never work out.  Billy has a woman in every town and she doesn't approve of his reckless rodeo career.  But fate works in mysterious ways and these two opposites soon find themselves having a hard time being just friends. 

I was hooked on this book from the first page. The story felt real from the emotions the characters went through, to the action during the rodeo, a close-knit family that will do anything for each other and the amazing Utah scenery.  It is the perfect addition to the Wyatt Brothers of Montana series. 

 

Review: One Purrfect Summer (Purrfect Pairs, #2) by Robyn Neeley

All’s fair in love and coffee wars.

Madison Porter loves Honey Springs, but her days are one big rinse-wash-repeat routine of working for the mayor’s office and caring for the town’s matchmaking cat, Belle. She once bid on the town’s ice cream shop with hopes of running it herself, but the sweet deal seemingly wasn’t meant to be.

Patrick Manning moves to the tiny town of Honey Springs to start over. After outbidding his competition for a building space, he now owns The Bean & Brew—and refuses to name his coffee shop with a bee-inspired moniker as per town tradition.

Madison soon uncovers paperwork proving she actually won the bid and is the rightful owner of the shop, but no way will Patrick forfeit his claim and rebuild his life again when he’s worked so hard. So when the town magistrate suggests a competition to see which business should prevail, they’re both all in. The winner earns the space, but soon their hearts are at stake.

 

My Review:

A sweet romance featuring a matchmaking cat.

Three years ago, Madison Porter was excited about buying the Honey Cone ice cream shop when she was outbid by an out-of-towner.  Ever since then, Madison has avoided Patrick Manning and his coffee shop, The Bean & Brew.  When Madison discovers she actually won the bid, it comes down to a little competition to see who will take ownership of the building.  But anything can happen in Honey Springs, especially when Belle, the matchmaking cat, decides Patrick is Madison’s purrfect match.

This book was so much fun to read.  I enjoyed the previous book in the series, so I was glad to get this one in my hands.  The author made the story a lot of fun with the competition between Madison and Patrick along with them co-chairing the Hometown HoneyBee Festival.  The quirky characters and storyline really made the story come to life.  This book is perfect for anyone looking for a sweet lighthearted story with a small-town feel and cute cats.