Hope Ellis

*This is a review of Playing By Heart by Sylvie Stewart - part of the Holiday Heart-On Anthology.

Cute and sweet
5 stars

I’m a big fan of Sylvie Stewart - she’s great at filling her stories with a combination of comedy and likeable, relatable characters. While this is the first short story of hers I’ve read - she still manages to make it everything I hoped and expected. But that’s not to say it didn’t leave me wanting more - but in the best possible way.

At a Christmas in July pet pageant (I mean, why the hell not?) Kat luck turns around when her crush turns up with his adorable dog. Better yet, he’s in a bind and the only one who can help him out, is Kat! And cue the music!

I liked both our characters instantly and they have the cutest chemistry. It’s quite nice to read a story with such innocent smittenness. It’s not that the story is innocent (although there’s only kissing), it’s just that they’re so totally adorable that it feels fresh.

For such a short story, I still definitely believed in their connection. Of course I wanted more. And of course I wish it was longer. But I was sucked in immediately and was left satisfied and with a smile on my face. I couldn’t ask for much more.

—-

Playing By Heart is Sylvie Stewart’s contribution in the larger Holiday Heart-On anthology. This set of 18 festive stories has been pulled together to raise money and awareness for women’s heart health. 100% of proceeds will benefit the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women® movement. There’s a whole set of different stories (averaging around 40 pages each) with different styles, tones and steam levels.

In this anthology you’ll also get:

🎅🏻 Playing by Heart by Sylvie Stewart
🎅🏻 Better than Christmas by Brenda St John Brown and Serena Bell
🎅🏻 Hang Your Heart by Arell Rivers
🎅🏻 Hockey Hotties Heart-On by Piper Rayne
🎅🏻 Hell of a Heart-On by Marika Ray
🎅🏻 Hardware Hard-On by Tracey Pedersen
🎅🏻 Christmas Eve with KXBZ by Roxie Noir
🎅🏻 Heartly in Love by MK Meredith
🎅🏻 Love by Chance by Claire Marti
🎅🏻 Christmas Cabin by Elizabeth Lynx
🎅🏻 Mistletoe Wishes by Stina Lindenblatt
🎅🏻 Rock Hard Around the Christmas Tree by Tawdra Kandle
🎅🏻 Always Be My Babka by Melonie Johnson
🎅🏻 Hooking Her Heart by Sophia Henry
🎅🏻 Santa Claus is Coming by Hope Ellis
🎅🏻 Heart-On for Her Beaver by Dylann Crush
🎅🏻 Heart Healthy Hot Sticky Buns by Kameron Claire
🎅🏻 Ants in Santa’s Pants by Amy Award… (mehr)

Really liked this one.

This is part of the Smartypants romance series which are books linked to Penny Reid Winston brothers series and Green Valley.

Second chance romance.

The reasons for the original split can either really work or just don't, it can be hard to sympathize with the leaver.

At first I struggled a bit with the Hero's decisions but it's part of his issue in life and an issue that is fully addressed between them.

And we find there is more than to things than just the initial reason he leaves.

During separation both are with others though her relationship history is vague, she is 'fake engaged' to Jackson James.

Jackson James is hilarious and we see plenty of him and learn quite a bit about him from this story.

There is nothing sexual between Jackson and the heroine though there is opportunity.

No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.

I found some parts hilarious, lots of funny moments and quips.

Lots of potential for future books in series with secondary characters.

HEA.… (mehr)

This is the latest in the Smartypants romance series and has all the trademark intelligent romance in Penny Reid's books which I adore. It's a second-chance romance story for Zora Leffersbee and her high school sweetheart, Nick Rossi, who disappeared one night twelve years ago. Now he's back just when Zora's attempts at tenure are flailing, but Nick may have the solution. He's never forgotten Zora either, but he's stymied by her fiance, Jackson James (who really deserves his own book after all he's been through in the various Green Valley stories).
While a fairly typical romance, what I really like about these books is the 'extra' put into them. Zora is working on a project to help medical people display more empathy, and Nick has an app he's developing for telemedicine that fits right in with Zora's project. It's a timely subject in the time of Covid-19 and presents some good information about health professionals in these times.
Both Zora and Nick are likable characters and their separation was due to a lack of communication and youth. Some of the other Green Valley characters and places show up which is always nice. A quick and easy romance that's fun to read.… (mehr)