Change of Heart by Jennifer Moore

Synopsis:

This summer, Nathaniel Cavanaugh vacations in Lobster Cove to spend quality time with his kids after his estranged wife’s tragic death. Successful and well-connected, he is on the fast-track to the highest legal positions in the country, but his family life suffers. After an accident throws Val nearly into his lap and costs her a job opportunity, Nathaniel surprises himself by overlooking her outlandish appearance and lack of qualifications to offer her a job as his nanny for the summer.

Valdosta McKinley wishes for an internship at a Paris Art Institute to use her newly acquired art-history skills. She knows Nathaniel could never develop feelings for a girl from a trailer in a rural West Virginia holler—a lesson she learned the hard way years earlier.

Will pursuit of their professional goals require Nathaniel and Val to give up the dream of being a family?

My Review: 5 Stars

March 2018:

*dreamy sigh* I still totally love Change of Heart! It is super cute!

May 2016:

Val has left her home in West Virginia and heads to Lobster Cove, Maine to pursue her life's dream of landing an internship in Paris. But before she can apply, she needs some hands on experience in an Art Gallery. On her way to an extremely important interview, fate throws her into the path of Nathaniel and his two adorable children. But with Val and Nathaniel coming from two very different walks of life, she tells herself she needs to get far away from this little family before it's too late. She doesn't see how someone like Nathaniel would ever want someone like her in his life. But the more they get to know each other, the closer they become. Now Val must decide if she's going to stay on the path that she has been dreaming of all her life or if she should take a new path and make a new dream.

Nathaniel heads to Lobster Cove, Maine with his little ones, Ruby and Finn, for a much needed family vacation. While out enjoying the summer weather, fate throws Val into their path. When he learns that he has cost Val the job opportunity that she desperately needs, he offers her an opportunity that she can't resist. Be his nanny for the summer and he will get her a job at an Art Gallery in Boston.

But what happens when the summer comes to an end? Will he choose the professional path that he's been working towards for years? Or will he realize that what he's been longing for is home and home is wherever Val is.

I absolutely loved Change of Heart! It was the perfect read for me! From the picturesque setting, to little Ruby and Finn, to Val and Nathaniel's journey, I was sucked in from the very beginning and could not put it down! I have a feeling I am going to LOVE this series! Can't wait for the next book to be released. I am hoping it's Seth and Melanie's... ;)

And the casting... *sigh* I love these two as Val and Nathaniel!

Becoming Lady Lockwood by Jennifer Moore

Synopsis:

Amelia Beckett is delighted to be a widow. Married by proxy to a man she'd never met, Amelia recognizes that a fortuitous entry into widowhood frees her from meddlesome chaperones and matchmakers. Heiress to her mother's sugar plantation in Jamaica, she happily anticipates working in a man's world, with the additional credibility of her new title: Lady Lockwood. But with the arrival of Captain Sir William Drake, her plans quickly go awry...

William has traversed the Atlantic with one purpose. If he cannot prove that Amelia's marriage to his brother was a fraud, she will be entitled to a sizeable portion of his family's estate. He is determined to return this duplicitous "Lady" to London for an official hearing, and he carries with him a letter that will ensure her cooperation...

Left with no choice, Amelia joins the captain on his return voyage to England, and the two quickly find that ship life does not allow for evasion. Amelia and William are ceaselessly thrown together, and amidst fierce storms and ocean battles, what began as antipathy seems to be evolving quite unexpectedly. But as they draw ever closer to their destination, will the impossibility of their circumstances shatter any hope of a future together?

My Review: 4 Stars

I had been hearing lots of good things about Becoming Lady Lockwood and was not disappointed when I read it!

Amelia Beckett is actually happy to be a widow. She had never met Lawrence Drake, the Earl of Lockwood, and was married to him by proxy. Shortly after their marriage, he unexpectedly passed away. She is now Lady Lockwood and no longer has to worry about the scrutiny the single women are subjected too.

Captain Sir William Drake is now the Earl of Lockwood and is determined to expose Amelia and her father as a fraud and have the "marriage" to his brother dissolved. He is sure that Amelia and her father tricked his brother into the marriage and they did it so that they can obtain his wealth and property.

William has to take Amelia back to London to meet with the magistrates to have the issue cleared up. She is not looking forward to it but she has no other choice.

While on the journey William is determined to not like her or have anything to do with her but quickly finds that it is not going to happen. Amelia is not like any woman he has ever met before. She is not only kind, caring, friendly and loyal but she is a very strong, hard working woman who pulls her own weight on the ship. Rather than sitting back and doing absolutely nothing, she can be seen in the galley helping the cook, in the surgery room helping the doctor, on deck helping to mend the sails. She helps to bring light and laughter to everyone around her.

Watching William and Amelia fall in love was adorable! I really enjoyed their story! The only thing that I did not like is the fact that while Amelia is so strong in almost everything in life, she is not strong when it comes to her own self esteem. While she and William have shared quite a few memories, happy times and even a couple of kisses, she doubts that he feels anything for her. Everyone could see his feelings plain as day but she didn't and doubted her own worth. I don't know why but that just bugs me!

And what good story lacks adventure and trials?! Can I just tell you how much I enjoyed watching Amelia rescue the entire ship and crew?! That was just awesome! I loved how she considered every single one of the men her shipmates and how close she grew to the crew. She really is an amazing heroine!

I wasn't too shocked to find out who the bad guy was. I kinda saw that one coming. But to me it seems like something is missing there.. like there is more to that story.

All in all this was a cute, fun read full of adventure, friendship, loyalty and of course a HEA! What a great first novel by Jennifer Moore! Can't wait to read more by her!