Saccharine Yet Endearing: Heart Strings by Melanie Moreland

Series: Standalone

Release Date: October 12, 2020

Format: eARC

Rating: 4.75/5 stars

Note: I received Heart Strings through Melanie Moreland’s team in exchange for an honest review.

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I have read almost every book by Melanie Moreland–I’ve even reviewed quite a few of her books on this blog (click here)–and what I love about her books is they epitomize the sweet romance, where everyday life can seem like an epic romance.

Sweet Romance Tempered by a Pushy Hero

I really enjoyed the sweet romance between the main characters, Logan and Lottie. However, their initial misstep resulted in me being slow to warm up to the Hero. The meet-cute between the couple goes as follows: Logan has been serenading Lottie at the subway as a busker for a few weeks; one night, Lottie is so emotionally exhausted from work that Logan eventually introduces himself to make sure she’s okay. However, due to how they meet, Lottie makes assumptions about Logan: he doesn’t have a job (because he’s performing for money during regular working hours) and might be homeless and/or hungry. Logan catches onto these assumptions through Lottie’s behaviour and becomes pissed–his pride is hurt since Lottie was simply trying to pay the bill after a coffee date. 

I took issue that Logan gets upset about Lottie’s assumptions but doesn’t consider his biases. Logan’s father died from a heart attack due to the corporate rat race. As a result, he projects his father’s relationship with the corporate world onto Lottie’s relationship to her corporate job (which she hates). Also, Logan kept making snide comments and assumptions about her economic standing. They were rude and also made me question why he would want to date Lottie if he thought she would act that way. I have no patience for hypocrites. Altogether it meant that Logan had much to make up for in my eyes–doubly so because Lottie was so apologetic.

While Lottie obviously should move on from her job, it’s evident that the main issue isn’t the job (like Logan assumed) but Lottie’s broken relationship with her parents. Therefore, I appreciated that the story navigated the complexity of Lottie’s emotional entanglements to the job she hates and what it means to her family. Also, despite the couple getting off on the wrong foot, I appreciated the commentary on corporate positions’ bodily and mental health dangers. I also liked how the Hero, Logan, addressed the assumptions that are commonly made about people in non-traditional jobs and homeless people.

Family Drama Interrelated with Grief

The main plot driver and hurdle to a happy relationship between the main characters was the Heroine’s fraught relationship with her parents. Grief changes people, especially when that grief arises from the loss of a child. I liked how Melanie demonstrates how grief can result in parents turning inward to heal and shows how that instinct of self-preservation can make it look like they’re spurning the surviving child.

I liked how realistic the parents’ arcs were. Just because the Heroine was becoming more vocal about her parents, ill-mannered behaviour didn’t mean that the parents suddenly saw the light. There were many moments of conflict and of personal growth–both on the couples’ part and the parents.

I think the only thing missing from Heart Strings was that I would’ve appreciated a more serious discussion of Lottie’s mental state. Her listlessness and complete lack of motivation after finishing the workday came across as Lottie bordering on depression. Instead of merely assigning Lottie’s bad days to stress and suppressed grief, having a nuanced conversation about the subtleness and normality of depression would’ve elevated the narrative.

In Conclusion

Overall, Heart Strings was super freaking sweet and quite steamy. I especially loved the epilogue and extended epilogue–Melanie Moreland has a talent for writing swoon-worthy romances. She makes me believe that epic romances are a possibility in the humdrum of everyday life.

After reading Revved to the Maxx a few weeks ago, I’m noticing (or maybe just noticing) that Moreland’s books are becoming significantly more steamy–which is by no means a bad thing. 😉

Overall, I really enjoyed Heart Strings; the Heroine’s grief and talk with her parents even made me cry! The novel isn’t a 5-star read because the Hero got on my nerves for the first 30% of the story. But, if you’re like me and find that pushy, know-it-all Hero’s annoy you, Logan definitely makes up for his initial behaviour (he actually apologizes!). It helps that I realized Logan is unaware of why Lottie stays in her job (her brother’s death). Also, there are so many scenes–including Logan serenading Lottie on multiple occasions–that reaffirm the sweet romance, including Logan standing up to Lottie’s parents (loved that scene). 

Finally, I have to mention Melanie’s talent for creating such fantastic and compelling secondary characters. I said the same thing in my Revved to the Maxx review: I now want a book dedicated to the Heroine’s best friend! Her side-romance seems like it would be such a cute read!

Buy Heart Strings

Other Books I’ve Reviewed by Melanie Moreland

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Bentley (Vested Interset, #1)

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Single Sentence Review: A cliché defying billionaire romance that tells the story of Emmy and Bentley without reducing them to their tropes; while the plot meanders a bit with its excessive focus on the side-romances, the book reorients as the suspenseful sub-plot picks up steam.

<strong>Synopsis</strong>

Three young men meet in university and form a lifelong friendship.
Their pasts dictate the men they are, but their present shapes their future.
What happens when these men meet the one person they are destined to be with? Can they fight their feelings and walk away? Or will they each succumb and learn the sweet agony of love?

Bentley
The leader of the group. He is uptight, formal, and cold. Rigid and set in his ways, always following the same path. Until the day, he stumbles upon her.

Emmy
She brings with her spontaneity and light. The world she lives in is so different from his, yet he cannot control the draw to her. Nor can he explain the way she makes him feel.
Happy.
Protective.
Loved.

Tags: Billionaire Hero, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Sweet Romance, Traumatic Past

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The Contract (The Contract, #1)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Single Sentence Review: A superior marriage of convenience romance that capitalizes on the angst of its enemies to lovers set up while unflinchingly interrogating the complicated realities of why the main characters are faking their engagement as they come to the realization their feelings are not so fake.

<strong>Synopsis</strong>

A tyrant by day, a playboy by night. That is the reputation that precedes Richard VanRyan. He lives life the way he wants, no concern for the opinion of others. He cares for no one, is completely unrepentant, and he has no desire to change his ways.

Katharine Elliott works under Richard as his PA. She despises him and his questionable ethics, but endures all the garbage he sends her way, because she needs the job. Her end goal is far more important than the daily abuse and demands she tolerates from her nasty tyrant of a boss.

Until the day, he asks her for something she never expected. A new role with a personal contract — fiancée instead of PA.

What happens when two people who loathe each other, have to live together and act as though they are madly in love?

Sparks.
That’s what happens.

Can the power of love really change a person?
Will they survive the contract?

What do you do when the one person you hate the most becomes the one person you can’t live without?

Tags: Asshole Hero, Contemporary Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Fake Relationship, Marriage of Convenience

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Beneath the Scars

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Single Sentence Review: A slow-burn, sweeping romance that captures the high, highs and low, lows that accompany whirlwind, heartfelt connections between people who have been wronged before–its success is tempered by an often cruel Hero but makes it a favourite for its strong and resilient Heroine.

<strong>Synopsis</strong>

The sound of the ocean, the of the waves as they kick up against he sand and rocks – these are the only sounds Megan Greene wants to hear. She wants to leave the rest of the world behind, and find some peace.

The offer of a private house on the beach, set in a small town in Maine, is perfect. Time to think, to be by herself. It’s all she wants. it’s the escape she needs.

Until she stumbles across the painting that seems to echo her own chaotic mindset. Until she meets the unfriendly artist behind the stormy painting and discovers his secrets.

All Zachary Adams wants is to be left alone. His canvases, and the unending score of the ocean and sand, are his life. They direct him – fill his hours. Bring him focus.

Until she enters his life. She dredges up memories of the past – the haunting images he has hidden for years; the fears he has never shared. A story he keeps buried below the surface.

Can she make hims see what he is missing? Can he trust her enough to believe?

Together they embark on a journey where their pasts collide and threaten to tear them apart. Will their fragile bon hold or wash away with ebbing tide?

Tags: Abuse, Contemporary Romance, New Adult, Romantic Suspense