Meant to Be: a bit predictable romance but sweet and funny

Meant to Be by Melody Grace is the first book in the Sweetbriar Cove series. Poppy Somerville believes in happily-ever-after and she kinda has to, as she is a very popular romance novelist. Her novels have won devoted readers from all over the word. It is also why she broke off her engagement as her wedding date fast approached. In the aftermath of her broken engagement, she runs to her aunt’s beach cottage in Sweetbriar Cove. Hoping the idyllic beachside town will spark her inspiration and end her writer’s block. Her visit to the town starts off on the wrong foot as she comes face to face with a handsome and gruff contractor working on the cottage next door. Cooper Nicholson doesn’t believe in soulmates or true love. He thought he found his forever once but he was once again proven wrong. Romance is the last thing on his mind; however, he can’t keep the beautiful Poppy off his mind. As they grow closer, the sparks fly and ignite and they discover that life has more plot twists than any fiction writer could dream up. Will Cooper finally let go of the past and risk his heart again? Can Poppy find her happily ever after in real life? 

Meant to Be is a sweet, funny and sexy romance. A run of the mill romance but still very enjoyable with all the smalltown charms. It is definitely a beach book or a weekend read when you just want to escape to a place and enjoy the quirks of a smalltown and watch the romance ignite. Poppy and Cooper are definitely opposites as she dreams about love with her head in the clouds and Cooper, jaded by loss, is grounded in reality. Together they teach each other that true love does exist but it doesn’t always exist the way we think it will. While Poppy and Cooper would get annoying and grating at times, the secondary characters are charming and hysterical as they help drive the two knuckleheads together. My favorite character was MacKenize, the no-nonsense, a “tell it like it is” kind of woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. I also enjoyed Poppy’s Aunt June who helped provide some of the comic relief too. It was a fast read with lots of love, laughs and banter that had me laughing and smiling. I look forward to reading more of the Sweetbriar Cove series. I recommend Meant to Be. 

Meant to Be is available in paperback and eBook. 

With Every Heartbeat: a great story with dancing, drama and passion

With Every Heartbeat by Melody Grace is the story of Annalise Taylor who is a member of the American Ballet Company studying in Rome. As the daughter of a prima ballerina, ballet has been her life and her dream until she met Raphael. One day while touring the city with her friends, she watches local street dancers and there she catches the eye of Raphael Gibraldi. Their whirlwind romance opens her eyes to new desires and new dreams. Does she desire to be a prima ballet and dance in the limelight? Or is she living someone else’s dreams? Annalise must decide if she is going to follow the path that has been laid out before her all her life or will she follow her heart?

With Every Heartbeat is a fascinating story about the cutthroat world of ballet where, as one character states, “You don’t get ahead without pushing someone else down.” Annalise is a great dancer but doesn’t live up to the expectations of her mother who gave up ballet when Annalise was born. The demands of training leaves Annalise with very little enjoyment in life. When she meets Raphael, her eyes are open to living life to the fullest. This book is filled with drama, tensions between Annalise and her friends as well as her rivals. It is filled with passion as Annalise opens her heart to Raphael and the excitement of life he offers. Their love scenes are breathtaking and heart stopping. There is a point in every one’s life when they must decide if they are chasing their dreams or the dreams of another. This is Annalise’s fork in the road life decision. With Every Heartbeat is a great weekend read with dramatic twists and turns with a great romance. I highly recommend it.

With Every Heartbeat

is available in eBook