Know you by heart Heart resort book 2

A meticulously planned marriage of convenience falls apart in Marcelo's touching second Heart Resort romance (after It Takes Heart). The story begins five years into the marriage between Chris Puso and Eden Chan--meaning their time together is almost up. Following Chris's parents' death, Chris, the eldest Puso sibling, was shocked to learn that their will arranged for him to receive part of a large inheritance upon his wedding and the rest after being married for five years. Family friend Eden proposed they marry and split the money 50/50, giving Chris the chance to save his family's struggling North Carolina resort and Eden the opportunity to focus on her writing. The friends draw up a contract outlining the rules for their partnership--but neither consider what will happen if they fall in love. Now that they've built a life together, will they really be able to walk away? Alternating between past and present, the story doesn't shy away from the messy reality of the lovers' situation, with neither able to admit the way their feelings have grown or differentiate between what's pretend and what's true. It's a grounded take on a favorite trope that makes it incredibly easy to root for the protagonists' romance. Agent: Rachel Brooks, Bookends Literary. (Apr.)

As the deadline approaches on a marriage of convenience, two people slowly begin to realize that faking it has started to feel like the real thing. Almost five years ago, family friends Chris Puso and Eden Chan married under an agreement. They would fake a marriage until Chris' inheritance from his late parents is paid out in five years, since it was stipulated in their wills that the money go to both him and his wife. Chris agreed to split the money 50-50. Eden could pursue her dream of being a full-time romance novelist and support her family, while he could use the funds to renovate and revitalize Heart Resort, a couples' retreat he runs in North Carolina. For years, they've been able to keep their arrangement a secret, but with only months left until the agreed-upon time limit, cracks are beginning to show. Eden has hit a major writer's block, waiting to return home to Austin to escape the distraction of her husband. Chris needs Eden to stay in North Carolina. With a rival resort causing problems and poaching contractors, he believes it's important to be seen as a united front. And what better way to promote a couples' resort than to be seen publicly as a happy husband and wife. Marcelo packs in the details with a rich setting and a welcoming cast of characters. For the better part of the novel, Chris and Eden seem more like friends, though there's an occasional exploration of their attraction. They've lived together most of their marriage, supporting one another in pursuit of their ambitions. Combining the tropes of friends-to-lovers with marriage-of-convenience works for the most part, but sometimes the burn is painfully slow. Committing to a real relationship seems like a no-brainer for Chris and Eden, which may make readers wonder why it was treated like such a problem at all. A low-angst read that pushes the limits of a slow burn. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.