My review of Hearts Awakening by Delia Parr.

About the book:

With no means to support herself, Ellie Kilmer agrees to work as a housekeeper for the young widower who lives on Dillon Island, hopeful she can obtain a proper reference. But Jackson Smith quickly realizes that Ellie's presence may solve his own problems--both the rearing of his young boys and the scandal that surrounds his first marriage. When a marriage of convenience is offered, Ellie is initially humiliated. Though she is past the age most women marry, she has more pride than to agree to his outlandish suggestion. Yet what options does she have? To marry would mean a home and stability. So despite the rumors circling Jackson and his first wife, Ellie accepts this unlikely proposal.

My review:

Hearts Awakening was a tender story with an appropriate title. It delved into what real love is and whether or not it's possible to develop marital love from friendship and not mere attraction. It also went into how you can't commit to someone if your heart is connected to someone else and the ramifications to everyone in your life when you close off your heart for fear of being hurt and abandoned.

I enjoyed this story because it really does show how the human heart works when an attachment to another person develops and blossoms into more. We all get less attractive as we age, but if we have a spouse who loves us deeply, that doesn't make the love dissipate, but it typically grows stronger if their is honesty and openness in a relationship. This story also shows how true intimacy cannot occur when there are secrets between people.

My only complaint about this story was how slowly the romance developed. The relationship that Ellie had with the boys was precious, and I enjoyed how their family slowly began to knit together. I would recommend this book even though it's not your typical romance or marriage of convenience story. It has a different, more heart-warming feel as their hearts awaken and bond in a marriage until it becomes more than just friendship.

What I enjoyed most about this story was how it shows that a solid friendship based on mutual respect and trust is an excellent foundation for marriage. Plus, the author's writing style was easy to read and follow.

Hearts Awakening was published by Bethany House and released in March 2010.