Monday, April 16, 2018

Susan's Review of Melissa Foster's Embracing Her Heart


Grace and Reed finally get a second chance at a first love!


EMBRACING HER HEART
The Bradens and Montgomerys
Pleasant Hill ~ Oak Falls, Book 1
Melissa Foster
Releasing April 17, 2018
World Literary Press


Leaving New York City and returning to her hometown to teach a screenplay writing class seems like just the break Grace Montgomery needs. Until her sisters wake her at four thirty in the morning to watch the hottest guys in town train wild horses and she realizes that escaping her sisters’ drama-filled lives was a lot easier from hundreds of miles away. To make matters worse, she spots the one man she never wanted to see again—ruggedly handsome Reed Cross.

Reed was one of Michigan’s leading historical preservation experts, but on the heels of catching his girlfriend in bed with his business partner, his uncle suffers a heart attack. Reed cuts all ties and returns home to Oak Falls to run his uncle’s business. A chance encounter with Grace, his first love, brings back memories he’s spent years trying to escape.

Grace is bound and determined not to fall under Reed’s spell again—and Reed wants more than another taste of the woman he’s never forgotten. When a midnight party brings them together, passion ignites and old wounds are opened. Grace sets down the ground rules for the next three weeks. No touching, no kissing, and if she has it her way, no breathing, because every breath he takes steals her ability to think. But Reed has other ideas…


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Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented–perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.










Embracing Her Heart has it ALL!!

It’s a sweet, second chance romance filled with captivating characters set in a small town in Virginia. Melissa Foster superbly blends the love of family, career pressures and new beginnings in this novel.

A successful playwright and producer, Grace has returned home to teach a three-week playwriting course at her sister’s bookstore. Returning to Oak Falls provides workaholic Grace with a much needed break from her stressful job and a chance to spend time with her parents and sisters. She never expected to find her high school boyfriend Reed repairing her parent’s front porch much less feel the same physical attraction towards him!

Reed sold his business in Michigan after being burned by his business partner and girlfriend. He decides to return to Virginia when he learns that his uncle has had a heart attack. Reed is looking forward to working with his uncle and to resume his career, renovating historical buildings in Oak Falls.

Grace and Reed are provided a second chance to explore their relationship in Embracing Her Heart. After ten years, the couple’s chemistry sizzles but they have a new set of problems to work through. As Grace spends time with Reed, her family and with her writing group, she realizes that by focusing on her career she has missed out on a lot of life’s every day pleasures. She looks at her small town with a new appreciation. Reed’s conversations with Grace about her career and life in New York provide insight to Grace’s character. Reed figures out that Grace is conflicted about her career in New York but is unsure what steps she needs to take to focus on writing.

Reed decides to win Grace’s heart by romancing her. Loved the chapter where he packs a picnic dinner and the couple watch a movie outside the Majestic Theater. Grace is overwhelmed by his gesture because he remembered how special this spot was to them. Reed is surprised when a person from his past pays him an unexpected visit. The visit brings up a lot of raw emotions for Reed.

The secondary characters add so much color and life to this novel! Each character was well developed and added to the storyline. Loved Grace’s parents, Reed’s aunt and uncle and my favorite Sophie’s grandmother, Nana. There is angst and conflict in the novel but, the author chooses to focus is on the enduring love and passion between Grace and Reed. This choice drew me into the story immediately and I read the book in one sitting.

Embracing Her Heart is a warm, feel good love story and holds a special place on my keeper shelf!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by Publisher

Click here to read the first chapter of Embracing her Heart!


1 comment:

  1. You read it in one sitting? That's awesome! You really must have loved it! Thank you so much for your review XOXO

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