Review by Booklist Review
Brandon Puso is back in the Outer Banks to help with the family business, a romantic-couples spot called Heart Resort. They are busy doing repairs for a grand reopening after hurricane damage when Brandon is stunned to discover that his sister's friend Geneva Harris is also there to help with interior design. No one in his family knows that he had a three-week whirlwind romance with Geneva four years ago that ended with anger and heartbreak. The Filipino American pair agree to set aside their past and prioritize their work, but old feelings arise just when they have to make important decisions about their careers and their future. Marcelo's romantic drama is slow to start with a lot of background for the reader to catch up on about the characters and their families and pasts, but once Brandon and Geneva really begin working together, their slow-burn, second-chance relationship is easy to get swept up in. The lush setting, realistic sibling connections, and big emotions add depth. Readers will yearn for more stories about these compelling characters.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
There's a storm brewing off the Outer Banks and in the hearts of reunited Filipino-American lovers in the emotional first Heart Resort romance from Marcelo (In a Book Club Far Away). After a hurricane leaves the Puso family's N.C. couple's retreat, Heart Resort, in disrepair, 32-year-old Brandon Puso reluctantly heads home to help his siblings prepare for the resort's reopening. He finds that some things never change--including his contentious relationship with his siblings and his feelings for beautiful Geneva Harris, with whom he had a secret fling four years ago. Designer Geneva, best friend to Brandon's oldest sister and therefore off-limits in Brandon's mind, is helping with the reopening and is equally tense to see Brandon again, recalling their abrupt, painful breakup. The pair struggle with their continued feelings for one another amid fears of their relationship being discovered by the Puso family and worries about losing control of their independence. Marcelo loads their darling romance with touching drama and sweet moments while seamlessly weaving in Filipino culture, language, and food, adding depth and authenticity to the plot. The endearing protagonists, dramatic sibling rivalry, and idyllic coastal setting make for a feel-good romance that readers won't want to miss. Agent: Rachel Brooks, Bookends Literary. (Aug.)
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