I’m so glad that Toni Blake is going back to write these kind of Contemporaries. In a time when Contemporary Romance is very popular but the focus is usually on being humorous or sexy, I really find myself gravitating to books like Blake’s where there’s a lot of emotion and conflict. I yearn for stories that mean something and I think Toni’s books always have a purpose to them that not everyone appreciates.

I completely enjoy her slower pace writing style. I love the small town feel to the series. I love the depth and emotion that Blake’s books into her characters. You can really see that this series means a lot to her because there’s a reason for everything. I am someone that appreciates that kind of attention to detail.

THE GIVING HEART has a little bit of a wintery theme to it, which most of you already know I love. The couple kind of start off with a rough patch. Lila kind of doesn’t like Beck because of his job and in her effort to preserve Summer Island, they do have some conflicts to overcome. But I do like Blake’s type of male characters because they are never perfect but they are still admirable and alluring in their own ways.

I’m hoping Blake had continue on with this series with many books. I just love the setting and the whole vibe of the series, so if you’re looking for something with a lot of heart in it, then this is a series that you much check out.

I somehow missed this one and didn’t download before archived. I’ll have to circle back at some point and pick it up for my kindle!

Meg gets the Christmas she didn't expect and ends up in a relationship she expects even less when she goes to take care of her sister's B&B on Summer Island.

A great feel good read with a few laughs and a great story.

I am really enjoying the Summer Island series. Toni Blake has a way of bringing a story full circle and this one was no different but it also came with a beautiful message. Giving. Lila was running away, again. She knows she has done this her whole life and knows that it has to stop. It’s time she becomes the responsible person everyone could rely on. Step One … help out the sister she wasn’t there for when she needed her the most. Step Two … well, she’ll get to that when she figures it out. But, step one is really getting the best of her. She can’t let Meg down and somehow, without even trying, she is. And, at the same time, she’s falling in love with Summer Island enemy Number One.
Beck is the newcomer to Summer Island. His agenda hasn’t been hidden yet everyone seems surprised when he starts bulldozing the trees. Especially that little spitfire that is called Meg. How does he say no to her? He has no choice but will try to make peace with her. He values his friendship with Meg too much to not try to smooth things over with Lila. Now, his next problem. How does he keep his hands off of the beautiful Lila? And, how does he let Suzanne know that he’s no longer interested?
I was intrigued with the little twists in this story. I found both Beck and Lila’s back-stories very interesting and really made the story make sense. You understood the “giving” in The Giving Heart. Lila was an enigma in the beginning. Then, when her story came out, you understood. She was a little hard on herself and honestly felt that she didn’t deserve to be happy. Her guilt was what kept her fighting. That and a knitting loom. Beck was just trying to live his life to the best of his ability. But, in the end, found that he was doing so much more than living … he found the true meaning of giving and love.
Toni Blake wrote a heart-warming and loving Christmas story. I am looking forward to where she is going to bring Suzanne and Dahlia. And, I look forward to more from Meg and Seth and now Lila and Beck.

Back in November I participated in a blog tour for this book that R&R Book Tours hosted. I had agreed to read and review this book before I realized it was the second book in the series but even though I haven't read the first book yet I don't feel like I was missing out on anything. But after finishing this one I for sure want to go back and read the first one.

This book is told from 3 different perspectives Lila, Beck and Suzanne. While Suzanne does have a significant role in the book she is more of a side character and honestly I could have done without that little side story. While I think it was handled pretty well for the most part I didn't really care for it or how a certain character went about one particular scene. Vague I know but I try to keep my reviews spoiler free.

Beck is your typical swoon worthy hero but he definitely has his flaws. Speaking of Beck the author went on and on about how handsome he was pretty much throughout the whole book which really got on my nerves. He's handsome I get it I don't need to be reminded over and over and over again.
While this is a romance it definitely deals with some heavy subject matter. I haven't had any personal experience with the subjects that were tackled in this but I feel like they were handled pretty well.

This is a pretty easy and quick read but at the same time things were progressing very slowly. Just when it felt like we were starting to get somewhere with the romance something would happen to make it slow back down. It was this constant will they want they situation and I just wanted them to be fully together already because their chemistry was literally seeping off the pages. And the thing that was holding them back wasn't really a big enough thing in my opinion to keep them from being together but they sure tried making it the biggest thing.

I know it sounds like I didn't enjoy this book because of all of the issues I had with it but overall I really did. I loved the characters even though they definitely made some mistakes. The romance was amazing and the setting was stunning. The author did an amazing job describing the setting. I could vividly picture what it would be like there.

This was a cheesy but very warmhearted read for the holiday season. If you are in the mood for a cheesy romance, look no further and pick this one up. Yes, there was indeed substance to the story as well but it was one of those stories that could easily be seen being adapted into a perfect Hallmark Christmas movie. If that happens, I know I would watch it for sure.

I did eventually become frustrated with the 'back-and-forth' nature of the two main characters getting together then deciding it was a bad idea but that is kind of status quo when it comes to novels with this storyline and it was still enjoyable.

I had not read the first novel in the Summer Island series but this still read fine as a standalone. However, between the cast and the cozy setting of the island, I definitely will be looking into reading more of this series in the future.

***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

This is the first book I've read by Toni Blake, overall I found it to be an enjoyable read.

The book is set on an island in Lake Michigan in December. At times I found myself wanting to belong to a community such as the one in the book. It is accessible by ferry, no vehicles, stores open pending on weather and other things, but still with a strong sense of community. During winter the shops are mostly closed after the Christmas Walk.

While I mention the community first the story is really about Lila and Beck. Lila is staying at the family inn, taking care of it so her sister Meg can take a trip with her boyfriend. Beck is a developer that lives on the island and wants to develop the land right behind the inn and tearing down the trees that made the inn so special to Lila and her family.

Can they figure out a way to compromise or will they ruin their chances for something more.

One thing Im not entirely sure I liked, was that the book mentions Harvey Weinstein and the MeToo movement. That just brought the book a little too into the real world for my usual tastes. All of it made perfect sense within the story and I can absolutely see why it was used though.

#TheGivingHeart #NetGalley

The Giving Heart by Toni Blake was a thoughtful, enjoyable book with a great message. Blake uses here characters to convey her message and does so masterfully. At its heart, this book reminds us that things should be freely given and that makes them all the richer.

Thanks netgalley and harlequin romance for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

4⭐️

Lila has returned to the small island town she grew up in to watch over her sister’s inn while her sister visits her boyfriends family. Beck just happens to be the man responsible for bulldozing the woods behind the inn. When Lila confronts Beck to get him to leave the scenic view alone, she wasn’t expecting to fall in love with him. But that’s exactly what happens.

I’ll admit that I’m new to the Christmas romance genre, but this has a lot more substance than I was expecting and I loved it! I loved Lila’s character and how she didn’t back down from anything. Beck was your typical macho male lead, but he had backstory and depth to him that made him swoon worthy.

I didn’t realize this was part of a series when I started reading, but I don’t think you need to read the first book to enjoy this one. The ending was a bit over the top and fairytale like, but no worse than any hallmark movie. If you’re looking for a good holiday romance book with juuuuuust the right amount of steam to keep you warm this winter, then I suggest giving this a try!

TW: sexual assault, grieving a loved one, childhood cancer

Nope. I don't like triangles and I especially do not like an indecisive Hero who can't make up his mind. If he is attracted to anyone other then the heroine, then it is not a romance for me.

This was a book where the heroine had a negative self image and this seemed to be all she could think about. This is book 2 in the Summer Island series although the series has a prequel also. Lila is house sitting for her sister Meg, and when land developer Beck starts ripping up the tree line behind the Inn Lila needs to move fast to prevent Meg's views turning into a housing development. The romance between Lila and Beck needs a Christmas miracle to survive. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review..

It was good to return to Summer Island and reconnect with the characters from the first book in the series. Meg is off with new beau Seth visiting the grandfather he reconnected with in the first book. In steps her sister Lila to stay at the Inn on Summer Island while they're away. She needs to regroup and decide what's next in her life after a sexual harassment charge against her boss results in her being fired.

She never expects to defend her sister Meg and the trees on adjacent land from a man she sees as a money hungry developer. As she gets to know him and they both share stories they grow closer. They never expect the connection that forms. He's expressed interest in Meg's best friend, Suzanne, who up to this point has made it clear she has no interest in him. She realized that's not the truth and he acts impeccably when confronted with the change of her feelings.

A great holiday story that can be read alone and I recommend you do read it!

I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher for my honest opinions.

Lila Sloan is house sitting for her sister’s, Meg, bed and breakfast. The home was the grandparent’s inn, on Summer Island, a remote island only accessible by boats. She’s always felt like she failed her sister because she was not emotionally there for her while she battled cancer. So, she is stepping up to the plate and house sitting so her sister can get away for a much-needed vacation.

Lila is woke up by the sound of a large machine tearing up the picturesque hillside behind the inn, where she throws herself in its way to stop the construction that neither her sister or the rest of the close knit towns folk knew where happening. Lila is convinced she failed her sister when she had cancer, she isn’t going to let some rich builder destroy her family legacy and her sister’s dream. Beck, the rich builder, understands Lila’s anger but he won’t let her feelings effect his newest venture. Everyone has liked and spoke well of Beck, so why is he trying to destroy this pristine woodland?

Sparks fly, chemistry ignites, and emotions explode as Lila and Beck discover what it truly means to love. But can frenemies really work it out?

I really enjoyed Lila’s and Beck’s story. Both are emotionally scarred and facing tough life circumstances caused by personal choices. Toni Blake gives us a heartfelt tale of family, community and love.


I received this copy of The Giving Heart from HARLEQUIN - Romance (U.S. & Canada) - Hqn. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Lila is house sitting for her sister licking her wounds while trying to make up for past mistakes shes has with her sister. Figures a land developer would be trying to plow down some trees that are near her sisters land and has ties to some childhood memories. Shes managed to slow down his progress along with the help of the winter weather but as she gets to know the "enemy" Beck she seems to soften to him. She knows she cant let him get too close, he is the guy trying to tear down childhood memories and could jeopardize her sisters inn but finds its hard not to give into that attraction.

I enjoyed this book, I love a good enemies to lovers kinda books. Its clear Lila was running from something and burdens by the guilt of the relationship between her and her sister and I was curious to get to know why and what was going on. Then there was the whole needing to talk about things to get past the past and go on with her life and heal. Then there was Becks side of things I did enjoy getting to know his character as well and his life is so different from Lilas and it was interesting getting to know about his backstory up until how he is now. I loved getting to get both of their point of views and seeing the romance and things do get steamy and I loved how their relationship as from start to end. Then there's the child neighbor for Beck which was pretty cute seeing how thing were for them. The one thing I wasn't into was the extra perspective which didn't do much for me but I'm kind of wondering if its just like a glimpse into a character for the next book after this? Kinda wondering about that. Since this does take place during the holidays I will say it does have some christmas spirit with some of the events and things that are done which I loved and will say that this is the perfect time to be picking up this book. Overall great book I really enjoyed it.

The Giving Heart ( Summer Island - Book 2) by Toni Blake


Publication: 10/29/2019
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: HQN
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages:384
ISBN-13: 978-1335505057

Spotlights feature books that I liked but did not have the time to review this month.


I definitely plan to read this one over the holiday season!

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, Book Depository

Toni Blake on the Web: website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads

Books in the series:

Summer Island

0. A Summer to Remember (2019)
1. The One Who Stays (2019)
2. The Giving Heart (2019)
3. The Love We Keep (2020)

Cover Art:





Excerpt from The Giving Heart courtesy of Amazon’s Look Inside feature

Synopsis:

Spend a white Christmas on Summer Island, where the fires are warm and the romance is hotter

Lila Sloan wonders why she ever thought house-sitting for her sister Meg on the remote Summer Island was a good idea. And to make matters worse, local real estate developer Beck Grainger is trying to cut down the beautiful trees that line the property. Lila can’t let this happen; Meg will never forgive her.

Beck can understand Lila’s anger—sort of. The trees are actually on the neighboring property, and the land was zoned for development months ago, so his plans were no secret. But he dislikes being at odds with his friend’s sister, especially because Lila is appealing in every way: loyal, quick-witted and completely stunning.

Lila hates that she’s so attracted to Beck, who seems like a genuinely good man, despite his tree-murdering tendencies. And their chemistry is off the charts. She just wishes he’d let this development go. As Summer Island counts down to a snowy Christmas, Lila and Beck will have to strike a compromise that seems impossible for them both—or risk losing the best thing either of them has ever had

The Giving Heart is available now from your favorite bookseller




USA Today bestselling author Toni Blake's lovE of writing began when she won an essay contest in the fifth grade. Since then, she has written over twenty contemporary romance novels. Her books have received the National Readers' Choice Award, the Booksellers' Best Award, her work has been excerpted in Cosmopolitan, and she has been nominated for a RITA Award. Toni lives with her husband in Northern Kentucky.

Lila Sloan has come to Summer Island to house-sit the family run inn for her sister Meg. She's hoping for some peace and quiet and what she gets is a bulldozer knocking down trees on the hill behind the inn.
Beck Grainger is trying to make the island more accessible by building luxury homes. He never expected the impassioned resistance he gets from Lila as she places herself in front of the bulldozer. He certainly admires her tenacity and wants to ease the hurt his actions are causing. So bringing a little Christmas cheer in the form of a tree seems like a good idea. And they both get more than they expected.
This is a heartwarming story of forgiveness and choices. And bringing together a tight knit community over Christmas.

This is the second book in the Summer Island series, but the first I have read. I had no problem following this story and it can definitely be read as a standalone book. This book opens with a bang and kept going strong. Lila is inn-sitting for her older sister Meg, when she hears cracking sounds. Looking out the window, she sees a bulldozer knocking down the trees behind the inn. She rushes out in her pajamas and slippers determined to stop the destruction. She meets the real estate developer behind the project, Beck, and is shocked to hear that luxury homes will be built on the land that they always took for granted. Lila does not leave the scene until she had the key to the bulldozer. As the story progresses, Beck is determined to get Lila to give him back the key of her own accord.

I really liked Lila and Beck, though Lila had her moments when she annoyed me. She has come to Summer Island to hide and recover from a situation at her last job, as well as to allow her sister to take a vacation. She is determined to save the trees as she feels the Inn will be destroyed if the forest is gone. She has guilt about a something from their youth and she feels she can't let Meg down again. Beck is a self-made man who is looking to find some peace of his own on Summer Island, as well as bringing progress to the island community. Dealing with the recent death of his father, he feels bad about their estrangement, but still feels it was justified. He has a lot of baggage dealing with his memories that he needs to reconcile with. Their relationship was interesting to follow. The sparks were there from the moment they met, but there was too much between them. As much as her actions irritate him, Beck is attracted to Lila. There is a pull of attraction, then Lila's feelings about his plans cause her to push him away. Over the next few weeks, they are constantly drawn together and if it weren't for the trees, they would have been together much sooner. As they finally opened up to each other about their pain and heartbreak, I loved the way they were there for one another, both giving the other what they needed. I really enjoyed the secondary plot of young Cade. He was a little boy visiting his grandparents across the street from Beck. They became friends and he made sure that Santa found Cade on the island. The subplot that I I wasn't impressed with was the relationship between Beck and Suzanne. I am glad the way it worked out though. With a storm stranding them all on Summer Island, I enjoyed how they were able to celebrate Christmas and how their relationships were strengthened. There is also a storyline dealing with sexual harassment in the workplace, and I really liked how this played out. Of course this is a romance so they will get their HEA, but the story that takes you there is well done. I will say there is some descriptive sex scenes that are not too long, so if that is not your cup of tea, you could skim over them.

Good continuation of the series. It opens with a rush as Lila, who is inn-sitting for her older sister Meg, sees a bulldozer knocking down trees behind the inn. She rushes out in her pajamas and slippers determined to stop it. There she encounters Beck, real estate developer, and owner of the land. She's stunned to hear of the plans to build houses on that hill and furious over what it will mean to the inn. She's determined to stop him in his tracks. Beck, who made his first appearance in the previous book (TheOne Who Stays) has had these plans in the works for months. He's not too happy about Lila's attempts to interfere, but with the weather being bad he believes he has time to change her mind. Neither one counts on the intense attraction between them.

I liked both Lila and Beck, though Lila had her moments when she really irritated me. She came to Summer Island for two reasons. First, to give her sister Meg, who owns the inn, a chance to leave the island for a few weeks with her boyfriend. Second, she is looking for peace since losing her job when her boss took exception to her resisting his unwanted advances. Lila feels that she was a bad sister to Meg when Meg went through her medical problems years earlier and, as a result, is determined to protect the inn and the family legacy. She also struggles with the belief that she handled the situation with her boss all wrong. Though she believes herself to be a selfish person, Lila is actually a woman with a lot to give. Beck is a self-made man who is looking to find some peace of his own at the same time he brings progress to the island community. Dealing with the recent death of his father, he faces regrets over their estrangement. His way of life versus his father's drove a wedge between them that kept Beck from spending much time with his family.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Beck and Lila. The sparks were there from the moment they met. Despite the circumstances, Lila can't help but notice Beck as a sexy man. As much as her actions irritate him, Beck is intrigued and attracted to the woman in the PJs and slippers trying to stop a bulldozer. Lila is determined to stay angry at him, and Beck wants to win her over. There is a rollercoaster of emotions as their attraction pulls them together, but Lila's feelings about his plans cause her to push him away. I loved the scene with the Christmas tree, as Beck tries to soften her anger. Lila desperately tries to hang on to her anger, but Beck's kindness and persistence chips away at it. But when the passion that flares between them explodes, Lila is beset with guilt over "sleeping with the enemy" and pushes him away. Over the next couple of weeks, they are constantly drawn together. In spite of their differences in the matter of the trees, in everything else they are well-matched. I loved how they shared their problems with each other. It was heartwarming to see how Beck believed and supported Lila over her situation with her ex-boss and the difference it made to Lila's feelings about herself. Beck also shared his feelings about his father with Lila, and talking to her gave him the boost he needed to face his past. I ached for them both as their feelings for each other grew, but the issue of the trees remained between them. The ending was terrific as they both learned the value of compromise. Their big moment had a feeling of "The Gift of the Magi" about it.

There were a few subplots going on also. My favorite was Beck's friendship with the little boy who lived next door. Five-year-old Cade was adorable, and I loved the way he brought out the lighter side of Beck. The snowman building scene was sweet and fun. When a blizzard stranded everyone for Christmas, I loved how Beck made sure that Cade's holiday wasn't ruined. Beck also featured in a subplot with Suzanne. He was interested in her in the first book, but because she was still grieving her late husband, she resisted his interest. In this one she begins to soften toward him, leaving Beck caught between two women. Dahlia also has someone special in her life, but issues of her own prevent her from letting it progress past a certain point. I hope to see more of this relationship in the next book.

Part of this book also dealt with Lila and the situation with her boss. Her feelings about what happened and how she handled it are very realistic. I ached for her and her hurt over her friend's reaction, and her reluctance to tell her family what happened. I liked the effect her relationship with Beck had on her outlook and her decisions about the future. I would have liked to get a little more detail about the results of those decisions.

Readers are transported back to Summer Island just in time for a White Christmas sprinkled with romance.

Lila is inn-sitting for her sister Meg. While she believes she has everything under control, she is startled that there are plans to tear down the trees and build houses. She bumps heads with the developer who also happens to be a friend of her sister. She is willing to do whatever to derail his plans to destroy the land.

Beck finds himself at odds as he tries to reason with Lila. He is not willing to go down without a fight but the weather did put a halt in his plans for now. While they brave snowstorms and cold conditions, Beck uses the time to try to persuade Lila to stop running interference with his job. The more time he spends around her, the more he likes her.

The story itself is fine on its own. I think I am a little more invested in the town than the characters at this point. Lila is okay as a heroine but she did drag her feet when it came to compromising with Beck. I almost wanted him to throw in the towel but when they came together it was cute.

What really saved the story is the Christmas theme throughout. I love how they went tree shopping and the winter presence was strong. Beck really did put the best effort forward for Lila.

I’m not sure where the author is going with some of the side characters. There is one in particular whose story is more serious than I like. There are a lot of adult issues to be tackled in these books for sure. I guess that is why I don’t read them as traditional romances but maybe more of women’s fiction.

Overall, a cozy read to get readers into the holiday spirit.

~ Samantha

When a broken woman returns to her grandmother’s inn to recover and find peace, she stubbornly pushes away a chance at happiness instead. Will she be able to forgive and choose love?

Book 2 of the Summer Island series is a charming Christmas love story about Lila and Beck. Lila is desperate, tired, and has made a promise to become a more responsible person by saving the inn from Beck’s land development project. Beck is attracted to the cute and crazy Lila who stopped a bulldozer while wearing PJs and slippers in the snow.

Beck is my favorite character with his kindness and generosity to everyone. His idea to help 5-year-old Cade have a merrier Christmas is so sweet and he has the patience of a saint when dealing with Lila.

It was an interesting plotline to have Beck torn between two woman at the beginning and I hope to see all these characters in Book 3.

Overall, the story tells us not to be too hard on ourselves for what we have or haven’t done in the past.

With the beautiful holiday setting and wonderful sense of community, The Giving Heart is definitely a page turner. I hope to read more of this series soon. Recommend highly!

Thank you to Ms. Blake for giving me the opportunity to review this book with no expectation of a positive review.