I love a small-town romance, and second-chance romances are also at the top of my favorite reads list (yeah, it’s a long list but there are certain tropes I don’t pass up). Kimberly Stuart delivers both of the above (and more) in her latest book.
In My Opinion…
When Grace’s big plans for her future success in the design industry crash and burn, she returns to her Iowa hometown discouraged and disheartened. With the help of her grandmother and friends, as well as a man from her past, Grace fights to find her footing in this new reality.
Grace annoyed me a little bit at times. She’s so focused on success and making a name for herself, she jumps right into an opportunity without taking any time to think about the repercussions. Perhaps that’s simply naiveté, but after her last experience in NYC, I would have liked her to be a little more gun shy before pulling the trigger on the next one that comes along.
And why did no one else have any words of warning for Grace? Tucker tried to emphasize she was the shining star and hinted at his concerns but never outright stated them.
That aside, Tucker is a calming presence among Grace’s tumultuous thoughts and emotions. I appreciated the guy liked to tease, showcasing his sense of humor, but also remained steadfast and confident around Grace.
Then there are the grannies. These ladies are what made this book so thoroughly enjoyable with their playful bickering and sage advice. The epilogue is the perfect ending to this story.
Overall a quick and fun read (perfect for a weekend or a day at the beach or pool) even if you’re wardrobe leans more toward Target and Kohls than designer.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
About the Book
A story of reconnection, lost love, and the power of faith, Heart Land follows a struggling fashion designer back to her small Iowa hometown as she tries to follow her dreams of success and finding true love.
Grace Klaren has finally made her dream of living in the Big Apple and working in the fashion industry a reality. But when she’s unexpectedly fired and can’t afford the next month’s rent, Grace does something she never thought she’d do: she moves back home.
Back in Silver Creek, Iowa, Grace is determined to hate it. She rails against the quiet of her small town, where everything closes early, where there’s no nightlife, where everyone knows each other. She’s saving her pennies and plotting her return to New York when she almost runs over a man who’s not paying attention at a crosswalk. It turns out to be Tucker, her high school sweetheart whose heart she broke when she left ten years ago. They reconnect, and Grace remembers why she fell for him in the first place.
And her career begins to turn around when she finds a gorgeous but tattered vintage dress at a flea market. She buys it, rips it apart seam by seam, and re-creates it with new fabric, updating the look with some of her own design ideas. She snaps a picture and lists the dress online, and within a day, it sells for nearly $200. Suddenly, Grace has her ticket out of here.
But Grace can’t fight her growing feelings for Tucker. Sometimes when they’re together, Tucker paints a picture of what their future could be like, and it feels so real. And when she finally gains the funding to move her new business back to New York, Grace must decide where home really is—will she chase her long-held New York dream, or find a new dream here in the heartland?
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