This was a really good book! I liked all of the characters and the setting was perfect!
Abigail lives in a place where love is celebrated year round. As a single woman with little prospects she feels out of place. Add in the fact that her great great grandparents named the town and their love story is famous there. Enter Jacob, a handsome single recluse. He is heartbroken over the loss of his wife and is just trying to make it dsy by day and also take care of his daughter. Jacob ends up buying the building that Abigail's store is in with plans to turn it into a medical office. This means Abigail will have to give up her dream of owning the whole building and turning it into a community based store. There's a whole lot of tension between the two of them but slowly they open their hearts to each other. In the end all of their dreams come true. So much more happens in the book. Read it, you won't be disappointed! ( )

This was the first book I'd read by Courtney Walsh and it won't be my last. Very sweet, clean story about forgiveness, accepting change and love. Definatley reccomend!! ( )

Title: Paper Hearts
Author: Courtney Walsh
Pages: 416
Year: 2014
Publisher: Tyndale
My rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for an honest review of this book from www.bookfun.org
Sappy romances never were books that drew my attention. In fact, anything that seems unrealistic in a work of fiction I quickly put aside and start another novel. However, Paper Hearts isn’t sappy. If anything, it is a mystery, romance, a reflection of reality of human relationship and faith. I started the book a couple of hours ago and just kept reading right on through all the way to the end!
I got caught up in a woman named Kelly whose personality given her is the pinnacle of antagonistic. I mean she is someone I loved to see what happened to her when she attempted to take over a man’s heart and dream. Oh and there is local group of women who are reflections of matchmakers of old, but are as diverse as any I have met in the pages of fiction. The way the author develops the plot made me think I knew how it was all going to play out in the story, but gee whiz was I ever wrong!
Then, when I read the author’s note, which shares how she was able to relate to some of the characters and their life experiences, again I was surprised. I have never read any other books by Courtney Walsh. She is a new writer to me and I like what she wrote in this work! Perhaps one reason I liked it so much is how she adds elements of reality in the book that lend credence to the tale so it doesn’t come off as unbelievable or a waste of time reading.
When you get her novel and prepare to read it, whether in a group or solo, mark out some time! Even if you read it in small time slots, you’re going to lose yourself in a small town whose history has a twist few of the locals don’t remember. Maybe the one woman in the tale who has her heart broken and chooses not to deal with her situation honestly, which colors her view of others, is a character that you can relate to. If that is the case, I hope no matter how painful you will let God heal you and help you take one step forward at a time.
Enjoy the book! I know I will reread it again sometime in the future.
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/ . Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson.75457 ( )

Paper Hearts or Real Hearts...

Take one idyllic tourist village focused on being the love capital of the area;one single twenty-something business owner; a mysterious and handsome newcomer to town; plus a group of meddling and mostly old ladies, and what do you get? One very confusing, enigmatic, and uncertain relationship between two hurting hearts.

Yes, the actual paper hearts are indeed the heart of the story. But maybe, just maybe, Courtney Walsh's title refers to the delicate, broken condition of the two protagonists. Hearts that can only be whole and real as their owners allow God to direct their ways, their emotions, and work true forgiveness in their souls. A tender, sweet read that will cause you to examine your own heart and emotions.

Favorite quotes: "But he shouldn't have to forgive God, should he? 'No, Jacob, forgive yourself.'" Also: "Love isn't perfect. If it were, we wouldn't need God to get in the middle of it."

I received this book from bookfun.org in exchange for an honest review. ( )

This Book Touched My Heart!

Paper Hearts is the first book I've read by Courtney Walsh and I'm so glad I found this author! I read late into the night and finished the book in one day! I enjoyed it so much that I did not want to put it down!

Abigail Pressman has been running The Book Nook, a store which she inherited from her father. The book store is her entire world. Deeply hurt by lost love in the past, Abigail has come to the conclusion that being a single woman with a book shop is all she needs in life. However, being single in the town of Loves Park is considered to be quite a problem. Her mother is constantly trying to play matchmaker and has recruited the Valentine Volunteers to assist in finding a man for Abigail. This diverse, and often eccentric, group of ladies meet at The Book Nook on a regular basis, stamping mail with the Loves Park postmark and planning romantic events. Abigail is unwillingly made a member of the group. She does not care about romance and the only dream she has is to expand her shop. Her landlord is retiring and has offered the building to Abigail, who is thrilled that she is about to realize her dream!

While Abigail is trying to get a loan to purchase the building, a new doctor arrives in town. He wants the building for his medical practice, has the cash to pay for it, and destroys all that Abigail has hoped for. Jacob Willoughby is a handsome single dad who's focus is on providing a secure and happy future for his young daughter. He is a man trying to escape a traumatic past and wishing to start a new life in a new town. Jacob's business partner, Kelly, insists that he needs to break Abigail's lease and get rid of The Book Nook in order to expand his practice. Kelly is ruthless, but Jacob is not quite comfortable with destroying someone else's life. He knows all to well the heartache of shattered dreams. Yet, his daughter's security is his primary focus and he moves forward with the plan to be rid of Abigail and her shop.

The Valentine Volunteers conspire to make Jacob miserable and to rally the town of Loves Park behind Abigail. But how? Abigail gets a new breath of life when she discovers love notes among the Valentine mail. The notes are written on paper hearts by a couple who has a tradition of sending the hearts to Loves Park each year in order to share their joy. Abigail hangs up the hearts in her store and people flock there in order to add their own love notes to the collection.

Will the paper hearts renew Abigail's faith in love? Will she ever find a man who is a good fit? Can she save her store and her dream? Could Jacob become an ally instead of an enemy? Is there a chance that he will find peace and renewed faith in Loves Park? It all seems to be impossible, but with God's direction lives can be changed. The theme of forgiveness is strong in this book. I found the story to be deeply touching and I highly recommend reading Paper Hearts!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, through The Book Club Network (bookfun.org) in exchange for my honest review. ( )