Series:
Box Books (Book 3)
It started with a box for collecting heart wishes…
Among the constants in Taylor Mulvaney's life are the
heart-shaped box made by her father, the mysterious hearts she sometimes sees,
and her longtime crush on Luke Montgomery. The Valentine box has a way of
connecting her and Luke time and again - and even after Luke breaks her heart
before leaving their hometown of Sweetwater, Kentucky for good, she never gets
completely over him.
The box brings them back together when they least expect
it.
Fifteen years later, Taylor still sees hearts. And now
she even makes them, baking heart-shaped treats at the Sweetheart Bake Shop.
After a rough start in life, she's found her way. Until, that is, Luke comes
home for his father's funeral, bringing a deluge of old feelings flooding back.
Before she knows it, a note dropped in her still-beloved Valentine box has
Taylor swept up in helping him save his family's horse farm - and trying not to
fall back in love with the guy who once left her shattered.
How will it end?
Could Luke really want Taylor the way she's always wanted
him? Can she trust in the future to turn out better than the past? The Valentine
box is still working its magic to draw them together all these years later, but
can Taylor set her fears aside long enough to believe in a second chance at
love?
Sweet second chance romance. It starts with Taylor as the
new kid in school; her red hair, slight speech impediment, and shyness make her
a target for bullies. Her classmate, Luke, gives her quiet encouragement,
including a sweet Valentine every year.
I loved the flashbacks to their school years, always
around Valentine's Day, with the heart-shaped box Taylor's dad made for her a
central theme. It's no surprise that Taylor develops a crush on Luke. However,
she has no idea that he feels the same way. A missed communication and Luke's
sudden departure during their senior year left both heartbroken.
Fifteen years later, Taylor now owns the Sweetheart
Bakery, where she makes a living selling heart-shaped goodies. Luke returns
home to help settle his father's estate, and the two cautiously rekindle their
friendship. I loved how quickly they reconnected and how easily they could talk.
The more time they spend together, the more their feelings for each other grow.
But Taylor is rooted in Sweetwater, and Luke will eventually return to his home
and businesses in Utah. Taylor's friends encourage her to "just have fun,"
but she wants more.
Communication is once again at the heart of Luke and Taylor's
problems. I loved seeing her stand up for her wants and needs, but she stopped short
of full disclosure. Luke's reaction mirrors his earlier history until friends set
him straight. I loved their reactions to his obliviousness and laughed at his
"aha" moment. He still has to make things right. Luke's big moment at
the end was sweet, but it almost didn't happen because he didn't learn from the
past. The epilogue was terrific.
I loved the small-town setting. The characters were
realistic, from the former high school bully to the friends who made their
lives in their hometown. I especially enjoyed the storyline of the big factory
that wants to relocate to their town. The townspeople's reactions were realistic,
as was Luke's desire to do what was right for the town and his family. The
solution was creative, and I loved how it came about.
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