Member Reviews
This is the second in a series, but you do not have to read the first to know what is going on with book 2. This is an easy read that felt a lot like a hallmark movie. Perfect for a day where you have the time to sit and read uninterrupted.
Modern marriage of convenience with two MCs that you quickly fall in love with - will these two get to an elusive HEA or will they part ways? This is a heartfelt romance that even had my “slightly” jaded heart believing in love. I loved the hero - hands down - great book boyfriend❤️💜💙 Since this was my first book by author Tif Marcelo I will definitely be reading more of her books in the future.
Overall 4.5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨| 4 Flames 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Recommended.
📚Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author/publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, comments, and interpretations of the story are my own and bias free. I did not receive any money in exchange for this review. Thank you to the publisher/author for allowing me the opportunity to review. Reviews are usually cross-posted to social media, goodreads, Bookbub, and blog. 🦄
If you liked Tif Marcelo's other books you will like this one. It is the second in the series, but could be read alone. It is centered around the Heart Resort. This one is more about Chris and Eden, but the whole family is involved.
I enjoy the easy read of Tif Marcelo. I did like that this was a closed door romance. I also like the fake marriage that you know has more emotion behind it then either Chris or Eden are willing to admit. This would be a four chair, but the middle drug a bit for me.
Book 2 in the Heart Resort series. I really enjoyed returning to this setting and catching up with these characters again.
The story takes place in Outer Banks, NC where a group of siblings own and operate a private resort that offers romantic getaways. In the first book, It Take Heart, we got to see more of them creating the atmosphere. This book focuses on what types of activities the resort offered to it's guests.
I enjoyed this romance because the main couple, Eden and Chris, are already married. They are in a marriage of convenience with the agreement that they would only be together for five years. The story follows them as their arrangement it coming to an end and they soon realize that their love isn't so fake. The perspective flips back and forth between the couple and even flashes back to the start of their romance to help explain their complicated relationship together.
After receiving some backlash from a fellow resort, Eden and Chris decide to attend one of the couple's retreats they offer themselves and have their experience broadcast. I liked this section of the storyline best. It was interesting watching them do activities that pushed each outside of their comfort zones and ultimately helped them realize areas they needed to work if they wanted to actually make their marriage succeed.
I love that the characters are Filipino American. The Puso siblings are incredibly real. They are loud, they each have their own drama, but above all they are a family. They have each other's back and are invested in making this family business a success. I really liked Eden. She is a romance writer so it was interesting watching her go through the highs and lows of the writing process. I look forward to reading book three and seeing Bea get her own story - especially after the mystery that was hinted at throughout this book.
I really wanted to like this book because I like the authors writing style but for some reason I couldn't get into the story line. The short description is that the main character marries so he can help a friend get her inheritance. Eden is an author and writes romance but struggles in her real life. The arrangement was just suppose to be for business but in the end the two end up falling in love for real.. It felt very much like a movie I have already seen and liked, but for some reason I couldn't connect with the characters.
I received a complimentary copy of Know You by Heart in exchange for an honest review. This novel had great potential, but the writing style didn't work for me, and I ended up skimming a majority of the book hoping it would get better. Unfortunately this was not a good read for me.
Chris and Eden story is a marriage of convenience story the story has two timelines back then and now then accelerates abruptly and here reality crashes the fake marriage
The building of their love is slow and difficult and steady
Not my favorite writing style and pace burnt read books that should bow to this
Well done
3stars
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC
Chris Puso and Eden get into a marriage of convenience with each of them gaining something at the end of five years- Chris gets the bulk of his inheritance being held in trust till he has been married for 5 years, which will enable him to keep his resort afloat and ensure the livelihood of his family. Eden gets the opportunity to invest time into her life- long dream of writing novels without having to spend time on a day job. Both of them agree to have an amicable divorce after 5 years once Chris gets his inheritance.
Tif Marcelo's starts with this promising premise and moves on directly to about 6 months before their impending divorce. As is expected, things don't go according to plans. Things are stirred up in their resort. As if that's not enough, both Chris and Eden are having to come to terms with the feelings they find they have towards each other.
The author takes the reader through the complicated maze their marriage has become and creates quite a detailed story about the whole journey the couple’s relationship goes through. In a way, that approach was quite new. The author has given the readers an insight into the characters and their lives. But it was quite long and made it a tedious read sometimes. I also felt the story lacked passion. If you like to read a love story with a unique perspective, you could give this book a try.
Loved Book Two of the Heart Resort series by Tif Marcelo! This book is the perfect escape read. The characters are so well developed and the plot makes it impossible to put down!
This is the second book in the Heart Resort series which I did not know when I started reading it. There are a few couples in it that I felt I was missing some stories on them but despite that this book can easily stand alone.
Its a marriage of convenience trope for a couple who are friends and both get something out of the marriage and its to last five years. We see them on their wedding day and then the story picks up a few months before the five years are up.
The main characters is Chris, who is Dominican and who owns a resort with his convenient bride, Eden/Everly who is a romance author and is Asian. They are very happily married and love each other but have only shared a frienship. As the close of their marriage is coming up, some pesky feelings are also popping up.
This was an enjoyable romance but I did not really feel the attraction between Chris and Eden. It was a very slow moving story and at times I skimmed it because it did not have a lot of action. Its a really terrific beach read.
This is book two in the series, Heart Resort. It's not totally necessary to read book one before this one, but I highly recommend it so you get the full impact of the characters and their relationships and the resort itself. I absolutely loved book 1! It was one of my favorite reads of the year, and reading that book while in the Outer Banks was super fun too! I liked this story, but I felt it was lacking compared to the first. I definitely recommend this story, nonetheless. In Know You by Heart, Chris and Eden Puso are married, even if only as a marriage of convenience. There's money on the line. Marriage of convenience is not always my favorite trope, but this book had an interesting take on the commonly written trope. We see Chris and Eden towards the predetermined end of their marriage. But I did love being able to see Brandon and Geneva again! They are my favorite! I look forward to future books set in the Heart Resort world!
This was a slow burn and it was slow! I thought the flashbacks were a little confusing and there was so much drama between the family and their careers that sometimes it felt like “enough already!”
Chris and his wife Eden are coming to the end of their contract marriage. With the deadline near, they must decide where their HEA will be found. Will they continue the contract? Food for the soul, it’s a wonderful multicultural romance.
Chris can only claim his inheritance until his fifth year of being married. He needs it to maintain the family's resort but the problem is he's single. Enter Eden. She wants to pursue her dream of becoming a romance author and needs financial assistance. So they agreed to a five-year marriage contract that benefits both of them. They always stick to the rules and give each other space. But after a huge threat to the resort's image, they find themselves in a couples' retreat less than six months before their contract ends.
This is the second book in the Heart Resort series which I wasn't aware of. But luckily it can be read as a stand-alone. The start was a bit slow. I really got into the story when they started spending time together during the couples retreat. I got to know them more and fully understood their situation. I liked the dual perspective and the flashbacks but I wasn't invested in the romance as much as I wanted to. It's slow-burn which I don't have a problem with but it didn't work out for me in this book. I'm still interested on reading the first book though.
*Disclaimer: Thanks to PRH for providing a free digital review copy via NetGalley. This did not affect my overall opinion of the book.
- Filipino Romance
- Marriage of Convenience
- Marriage in trouble
- MC is a romance author
The time jumps were confusing. The couples resort is an interesting idea. I like that you get assigned activities that would help the couple's marriage.
I really liked the marriage of convenience and the way Eden's author identity is a secret. They both really love each other, but have to really work on it, together- I liked those parts. The ending is cute.
I like this quote: "I want is a happily ever after, even if it's hard to be together. I want to be the love that requires presence, attendance, attention. I want to be the one chosen." I love that Chris wants to give it all to her. He really does love her.
I love Tif Marcelo's books because of her incorporation of the Filipino culture. She does it again with Know You by Heart, a marriage by convenience trope with a dash of Filipino spice.
With common story tropes, I like it when author's put a unique (to me) twist - like the split inheritance in the plot. The characters had growth and I appreciate the author finding a compromise for the couple rather than one having to sacrifice it all for their HEA. Marcelo also made both Chris and Eden equally responsible for their problems, rather than making one heavily responsible, which is rare to find in romance novels.
Thank you netgalley for this book. this was my second book from Tif Marcelo. I am a fan of the work.
I just reviewed Know You by Heart by Tif Marcelo. #KnowYoubyHeart #NetGalley
Eden is wanting to devote all her time on her writing. She is an up and coming author but she is struggling with the time it takes because she needs to work. She needs the money. So, to benefit this writing process she decides to marry, Chris, someone she doesn’t love. This benefits both of them. Eden gets to spend more time of her craft and Chris gets his inheritance plus he can focus on his new resort, Heart Resort.
The end of this partnership is coming to a close. But, things start to deteriorate when Chris and Eden decide to do a retreat focusing on their marriage. Can these two hang on?!?! You will need to read this to find out!
I fell in love with Tif Marcelo’s books when I read North to You back in 2017. That is still my favorite book. But, I have enjoyed all her books and this one is ranking pretty close to the top for me.
I love the interaction between Eden and Chris, especially during the retreat. They learn so much about each other and themselves. And sometimes they do not like what they have learned. These two have great chemistry and you just root for them from start to finish!
Need an all around good romance…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
Loved this! Haven't read the first in the series, but works well as a great standalone. My first marriage of convenience story and it's so enjoyable.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by NetGalley. Opinions and reviews are my own. I love this sweet and fun romance that will have you laughing and sighing over and over.