Tif Marcelo

Overall, this was a good book. Jared is the result of a one-night stand; his father never knew about him. Jared wondered about him but didn't have much interest in connecting with him until he had a crisis of identity. Jared is a chef, and devastating criticism of his ethnic cooking sent him looking for his Filipino roots. He arrives in his family's town with no plan of action. The first night, he connects with a beautiful woman.

Matilda loves her job managing the B & B. The owner gave her a job and a chance after Matilda left an unhappy marriage. Her organizational skills are unparalleled, and she has a finger on every pulse of the business.

Jared chickens out of confessing who he is when he arrives in Peak. Instead, he takes a job as a fill-in chef at the family B & B, using the time to get to know his father's family. He connects easily with his half-sisters and is sweet with his nephew. He feels guilty about keeping his identity secret but can't decide the best way/time to come clean.

Meanwhile, he and Matilda continue spending time together. Matilda is wary of getting involved after losing herself in her marriage. She doesn't want to risk the same thing happening again. She tends to keep tight control of her emotions, feeling that is her only way to protect herself. She is also a bit of a control freak when running the B & B. She, too, begins to feel guilty about keeping Jared's secret and the effect it could have on her relationship with the family.

I liked the development of the relationship between Jared and Matilda. Jared is upfront about his interest in her. Matilda is more hesitant, as she is bothered by the ten-year age difference between them. I liked seeing Jared and Matilda spend time together and discover their compatibility. But when the secret comes out, the reactions are all over the place, and Matilda and Jared must deal with the fallout. I ached for them all as everyone came to terms with the revelations. The ending was emotional and well done, and the epilogue was sweet.… (more)

Adelaide sends Sophie and Regina an SOS to come help her while she recovers from surgery and to take care of her daughter, Genevieve. Adelaide's husband is on deployment and Regina and Sophie drop everything to be at Adelaide's side, even though neither knows the other will be there and they haven't spoken to each other for a number of years.

This books tells the stories of these three ladies in current time and while their spouses were deployed ten or so years prior. It delves into the friendship they forged through a monthly book club and how it started up again when Sophie and Regina respond to Adelaide's SOS. While spending time with Adelaide, secrets come out and the truth is revealed regarding what happened all those years ago.… (more)

Know You by Heart by Tif Marcelo
Heart Resort series #2. Contemporary romance. Multiple times lines for the same couple as background. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Chris Puso is acting head of the family and is in charge of running Heart Resort. He married Eden to gain access to a trust fund to help run the resort. It was a business arrangement that suited them both at the time. But rumors and competition is putting the couple in the spotlight. Social media wants to know they are a happy couple and not just a front for the couples resort.
Eden married Chris so she could concentrate on her writing career and help support her own family. Now that’s she a successful romance writer, if the truth of their marriage comes out, she’s concerned it will hurt her career as well as her family.
Together Chris and Eden either need to put on a good show or decide what they are really getting out of their marriage.

It’s a bit heartbreaking as the two circle around each other and focus on career over heart. Switching time lines can be a bit confusing if you don’t pay attention. I loved that Chris read all her books and while focused on the resort, actually paid attention and supported Eden. She sees only the phone calls that interrupt.
They pull it together in the end for a happy ending.… (more)

We all know nothing that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. And even though Jackson and Beatrice didn't get as far as either of them would have liked while they were in Vegas, doesn't mean the emotions didn't follow them. An instant attraction like the one between them clearly wasn't one to be stopped. Or forgotten about. Even if she did give him a fake name and felt pretty confident that she would never see him again. Beatrice should have known that with an attraction and connection like that between herself and Jackson, their encounter in Vegas was not going to be the last time she saw him. And the way she struggled to walk away from him even after knowing him for only a few hours should have been a pretty good indication of that.

The reunion between Bea and Jack after Vegas could have happened slowly. It could have been a huge drawn-out buildup. But instead, it was something that was dealt with quickly and in a realistic way. There was happiness and surprise. But an immediate attempt to pick up where they left off in Vegas. And that was exactly how I needed it to go. Jackson was understanding why Beatrice didn't give him her real name and Beatrice was understanding when Jackson told her he was unable to read her number on the paper she slid under his door. There were no drawn-out misunderstandings or arguments about things. Well, at least not when it came to their meetup in Vegas and not seeing each other for five years.

Jackson may not have believed in fate but even he had to admit that it was pretty strange to end up right next door to Beatrice after five years of thinking about her. And wishing he had been able to take her on a date. But of course, something always has to get in the way of that smooth sailing. And it was Beatrice's family. But more than that, it was her family business. Or, more specifically, the fact that her family business was in direct competition and in contrast with Jackson's family business. Though in Beatrice's defense, it was her idea to buy the resort with her brothers and she had been working there with them since that moment. When it came to Jackson, he only got involved with his family's business to have a relationship with his father and for a job after retiring from the military.

But there was also a bit more to the rivalry than just business. Jackson's father didn't always play nicely with others and has done some shady things. So it's understandable why Bea's family is a little wary when it comes to dealing with them. But Bea's family also hasn't exactly been welcoming to their competition. Though they haven't resolved to any shady tactics, they haven't made the situation any less volatile. The two families not being fans of one another really makes the relationship between Bea and Jack a difficult one to navigate. But their feelings for one another are strong and they just have to decide if they are going to let their families stop them from being happy with one another.

I loved the times from Beatrice's point of view. She is such a relatable character and being inside her head was such a fun ride. Her inner thoughts had me laughing out loud so much of the time. Beatrice is such an honest and loving character. It was easy to see why Jackson fell so hard and fast for her. But the way Beatrice's emotions were written was palpable. I experienced everything she was feeling. It felt like I went on this journey of love with her. The ups and the downs. And when it was from Jackson's point of view, talk about swooning! Such a great male character. I wasn't just reading words on a page, I was experiencing everything in real-time as I was reading it. And it takes a pretty talented author to be able to take it to that level.… (more)