The Key to Love by Betsy St. Amant

Bri Duval’s is on a quest to find the secret ingredient for her mother’s macaron recipe and working at the Pastry Puff has given her ample opportunity to experiment with her recipe.  But there is more going on at the bakery than just baking.  Aunt Mable and Aunt Agnes, The Puff Pastry owners, take it upon themselves to spurn on a few romances.  The evidence is clearly seen on the Parisian love-lock wall behind the bakery where dozens of locks are displayed by all the couples they have matched.  When a video goes viral about their love-lock wall and reporter Gerard Fortier comes to do a story on it, Bri seizes the opportunity to generate business for the bakery. The bakery is Bri’s only connect to her deceased mother and she is desperate to save it from being sold to her ex-boyfriend, Charles. 

This story reminded me of a classic Hallmark movie.  The big city reporter, Gerard, comes to the small town and immediately there is friction between the two main characters.  As their relationship progresses, an attraction develops but neither want to acknowledge this attraction.  Finally, the attraction becomes unbearable and they kiss.  But then there is a big misunderstanding and the friction returns until the misunderstanding is ironed out and their relationship is back on track.  I felt the pace of the romance was a bit fast and therefore unbelievable. However, I did appreciate that both of the main characters learned something about themselves and matured in the narrative. Bri discovers something about her parent’s relationship that forces her to reevaluate how she defines love and marriage.  At the same time, Gerard has a photography mentor that he sees in a new light when he discovers more information about his personal background.  Overall, it was a cute romance story with a charming setting and a cast of diverse, and sometimes quirky, characters.   It is an easy to read and lighthearted book.

I received a complimentary copy from Revell for an honest review.  

The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox

Harvey James has never felt like he belonged anywhere or to anyone.  But when he finds an abandoned newborn baby his life changes forever.  Although homeless and without the means to care for this baby, he is determined to protect and love for her.   Through a series of events he meets a variety of people that become his family and family to the baby girl, Ivy Rose, that he has claimed as his.  But twenty-four years later, when grandma Pearl dies, Ivy returns to her hometown to oversee her grandma’s estate sale, which stirs up yearnings to understand where she has come from.  

This book is written in dual time, with one chapter in the present day and the next chapter written twenty-four years earlier.  For this story, that format worked really well giving the reader the full scope how the events of Harvey and Ivy Rose unfolded.  It was so masterfully written, and the narrative well thought out by the author.  It wove together the characters and story background like a well-timed orchestra.  And the author handled a lot of meaty topics and human challenges with ease, insight, and sensitivity.  The complexity of the story was one of the aspects I appreciated the most and it has become one of my favorite books. The main characters were all very likeable, embedding themselves in the heart of the reader.  The title was so apropos, not only for Harvey but many of the other characters as well.   

I would highly recommend reading this heart-warming book.  

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.