My Thoughts:
A cozy guest house, two best friends dealing with broken hearts, secrets uncovered by the FBI, and a busy body (with a big heart) group of women who call themselves the Valentine Volunteers- all in a charming town called Loves Park. Change of Heart, written by Courtney Walsh, is a delightfully romantic escape. I particularly enjoyed the well developed main characters. Trevor Whitney- The handsome, long suffering, and dutiful son who put aside his dreams to continue the family business. There is one dream of his that refuses to be put aside, though. Evelyn Brandt- A breathtakingly beautiful artist who has forgotten her dreams. Personal secrets about her husband have come to light and she's desperate to escape the scrutiny of the public eye. Trevor and Evelyn began as best friends in high school and the flashbacks to their youth were wonderful. Their story would work well in a movie as there are many memories, conversations, etc. that would convey all on screen. A great cast of supporting characters, as well. Christopher Brandt's "indiscretions" keep the story going at a great clip- Is he the villain or just misunderstood? (You'll have to read to find out!) Maggie Lawson, an attractive reporter with an eye for Trevor Whitney. Is she the love of his life? Aunt Lilian- She knows Trevor so well and exactly when to dole out tough love when necessary.
The story line for Change of Heart was quite enjoyable, although it tended to drag on a bit at the end. If you're looking for a Spring Break or summer beach escape you may just want to tuck it into your tote bag!
A Colorado senator’s wife, Evelyn Brandt seems to have it all. But her carefully constructed life comes toppling down when the FBI crashes her society brunch with news that her husband has been arrested for embezzlement, and he’s far from repentant. It turns out this was only the start of his indiscretions—for which he has little regret.
As the weeks following the scandal turn into months, Evelyn withdraws, even shirking her duties with the philanthropic Valentine Volunteers. The inquisitive women of the group are determined not to let Evelyn’s divorce destroy her. They have big plans for her to use her long-forgotten artistic talent to reimagine the city’s iconic lamppost hearts. But doing so will force Evelyn to work closely with Trevor Whitney, her ex-husband’s former best friend. Though she and Trevor used to be close—and he’s been letting her hide in his guesthouse—his gruffness conveys his unease with the situation.
Amid the beauty of Trevor’s farm and the comfort of a paintbrush, Evelyn starts to reclaim the dreams she sacrificed to become the perfect politician’s wife. And as creativity inspires them both, Whit begins to see the girl he fell in love with before his friend—and his own mistakes—stole his chance. Possibilities for a new beginning emerge, but long-kept secrets threaten to ruin everything. After so much time, is a change of heart too much to hope for?
As the weeks following the scandal turn into months, Evelyn withdraws, even shirking her duties with the philanthropic Valentine Volunteers. The inquisitive women of the group are determined not to let Evelyn’s divorce destroy her. They have big plans for her to use her long-forgotten artistic talent to reimagine the city’s iconic lamppost hearts. But doing so will force Evelyn to work closely with Trevor Whitney, her ex-husband’s former best friend. Though she and Trevor used to be close—and he’s been letting her hide in his guesthouse—his gruffness conveys his unease with the situation.
Amid the beauty of Trevor’s farm and the comfort of a paintbrush, Evelyn starts to reclaim the dreams she sacrificed to become the perfect politician’s wife. And as creativity inspires them both, Whit begins to see the girl he fell in love with before his friend—and his own mistakes—stole his chance. Possibilities for a new beginning emerge, but long-kept secrets threaten to ruin everything. After so much time, is a change of heart too much to hope for?
Read the 1st Chapter of Change of Heart here!
*I was given a copy of this book by Tyndale in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was received.*
