Tif Marcelo's books are always pick-me-ups. It Takes Heart does deal with grief, but it also ends with a happy ending. Loved it.

Hello

Apologies for the late notice, but I have decided not to review this title. While I am certain it's obvious by now, I wanted to also clear this off NetGalley, so it's not showing as open for either of us.

Thanks,

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

I enjoy Tif Marcelo’s work and this certainly has an interesting premise.

I did not fully read this book and so I don’t want to give an in-depth review that wouldn’t align with others’ experience of it. But I’m sure it will be enjoyable for many!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC in exchange for my opinion.

Very well written book. Really enjoyed this author, would definitely read more by this author and recommend on my book IG

I loved this feel-good romance, it features two young Filipino-Americans and it’s a story of family, love and grief. This was my first read by Tif Marcelo but I’m definitely looking forward to more now, highly recommended

Set in my state and a super interesting premise! I loved the setup and found the romance decently enjoyable. However, I didn't feel incredibly invested and found myself a little lost at points.

I just adore Tif's writing! Her books always feel like being welcomed into a new family, and I loved getting to know the Pusos. And what could be more perfect for your next summer read than than a second chance romance set on a heart shaped island resort? Bump this one to the top of your reading list!

I have read some of the Heart Resort stories out of order but that did not stop me from enjoying the beginning of the Puso family's adventures. Brendan and Geneva get a second chance at love, how will they navigate a relationship and working towards their professional goals. I love travelling to the Outer Banks scenes in Tif Marcelo's series. I get so invested that each member of the family feels like a friend after. Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for a copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

I thought this was a solid second chance romance and start to a new series. Alternating chapters is not my favorite POV but I always like knowing what is going on in both characters heads. I enjoy learning about the various cultures in this story. I wish there was more romance and less secrets. That I can't tell you stuff because you won't like me trope drives me batty.

I think the experience of this book will vary on the expectation going in. I went it with the idea of mainly a romance and in that sense it was ok. For readers looking for more a family drama with romance included, this will be a solid read.

It Takes Heart - After the death of the parents, the immigrant Puso offspring buy land and build Heart Resorts to work through their grief. Then Brandon arrives after a hurricane damaged the resort and finds his former love is there. They try only to focus on the resort, but it’s not easy. It’s all about family and gears with its HEA. Fabulous multicultural romance.

While there is an HEA, I hesitate to categorize this as romance. It also really isn’t quite women’s fiction. However you categorize it, there is a wonderful story of family, love, grief, and immigrant expectations within its pages. This is a must read for anyone who loves big messy family dynamics.

Tif Marcelo could do no wrong in my book. I am so grateful that she is writing romance again. i can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series.

I love family-oriented stories, but this one packed so much drama that most of the time I felt like the actual romance took a second place in this book and it's a shame, because the second chance romance between Brandon and Geneva was WONDERFUL. But I'm not sure if I will continue reading this series, because a family saga is not what I'm looking for...

This a character driven story based on family dynamics. The brother that feels a disconnect from his family comes home to help his siblings repair a family owned and run resort. I like character driven books about family and this is a good one. There is a second chance romance involved and family issues to be solved in this story. Be sure to check this one out if these are the type of books you like.

It Takes a Heart is mostly a second chance romance, but what makes it shine is how it also explores family and friendship. This was such a fun and lighthearted read!

This is definitely a romance book, but it is also a family story with friendship at it's center. The setting ( The Outer Banks ) is one of my favorite places, so that added to the story for me. Second chance romances are a sub-genre that I really enjoy - this one did not disappoint. As you know, if you have read my blog before, I do not enjoy explicit steamy scenes - this book had a few - I skimmed those parts. Although this story started out slow, it did pick up as I read it.

Tif Marcelo is Filipino and it showed in her story line and her writing. Her characters are relatable to everyone, but you can see her influence from her culture in them. This is the first book in the Heart Resort series. I will definitely be looking for the next one in the series.

The Heart Resort is a private couples resort in the Outer Banks of North Carolina owned by a Filipino-American family, the Pusos. After a hurricane shuts the business down, the youngest Puso sibling Brandon decides to return to helpout. After working as a contractor in the DC area for years, he finally decides to make up with his eldest brother and use his professional expertise to make up for lost time.

However, Brandon encounters something unexpected when he arrives at the resort, his older sister’s best friend Geneva Harris. Years ago at a family wedding, Brandon and Geneva discovered an unexpected spark between them that led to an intense but brief secret romance that ended with both of them heart broken. But now the family needs them to work together to fix up the resort for its reopening before the latest hurricane barrels through the Outer Banks. With Brandon leading construction and Geneva doing the design, everyone notices how well they work together. But will their spark lead them to more hidden heartache, or will this second chance turn into something more?

It Takes Heart is full of family drama and secrets which set the stage for a feel-good romance centered on two young Filipino-Americans. This story will warm your heart with touching family moments and a coming into your own tale. With Filipino culture mixed in, this book creates a compelling combination of appreciating personal history and making way for a brighter future. This is the first book in the Heart Resort series.

Wonderful novel about family and the relationships of the siblings! Brandon’s family owns a resort in the Outer Banks. He’s come home to help them get it ready for reopening after it was damaged by a hurricane. But he doesn’t know that his sister’s best friend Geneva is there also. This is a little bit of a complication because Brandon and Geneva have a secret past. This on top of the family drama that seems to happen between Brandon and his siblings is bound to make everything interesting.