Super cute and romantic! For fans of small town romances.

I really liked Delaney's character. As someone who has an artists heart but followed a more traditional career path. I could sympathize with her internal struggle and found her storyline interesting. Parker was a good character too. He is trying to open his own business and is struggling with that. Both have been hurt by past relationships so they were hesitant to begin a relationship. The characters emotional struggles feel genuine and are believable.

I found the romance to be well-paced and the characters had great chemistry. I enjoyed watching these two connect on a deeper level than just physical too. I enjoyed their flirting and banter. They had a lot of super cute moments.

I enjoyed Mecca's writing style too. Definitely delivered on the small town vibes.

An enjoyable small town romance!

2 Stars
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I was so happy to be an ARC reader for this book. Thank you to NetGalley and, of course, Cissy Mecca!

Desired Hearts takes place in the small town of Cedar Falls in the Finger Lakes region of New York, and I love small-town romances, so I was excited to read this.

The main male character, Parker Scott (32), is considered the “nice one” among his group of friends. He doesn’t do hookups, but he’s not really into relationships either, mostly due to his parents' marriage having problems; he has a complicated relationship with his father, which leads to trust issues explored throughout the book. Parker wants to start his own construction company, and he and his friends have a “bachelor pact,” meaning they’ve sworn off dating anyone.

The main female character, Delaney Thorton, is a pharmacist in her late 20s. She’s a glass-half-full kind of person, but feels stuck in her life. She went into the medical field following her mother’s path, but would have much rather been an artist. She was recently out of an on-and-off relationship, and she’s determined never to date again. However, fate brings her and Parker together, first at the pharmacy where she works, then through their friends, since her friend Pia is married to one of Parker’s friends, Mason (From book 1 of the Bachelor Pact: Fallen Hearts).

Delaney and Parker share some really cute and fun flirting moments. I enjoyed how their emotional struggles felt genuine, especially Delaney’s hesitation to start her own art business and quit working at the pharmacy, and Parker’s trust issues in relationships. That said, their transition from “no dating” to a physical relationship felt a bit sudden for me, giving off an insta-love vibe, which isn’t my favorite. Also, the pet name “Cupcake” felt a little out of place for my taste.

Around the middle of the book, I found myself wishing there had been more buildup to their feelings and relationship. I think the insta-love aspect was a bit of a challenge for me, but the writing style was lovely, and the small-town settings always add charm. If you enjoy quick, sweet romances with a touch of insta-love, this might be a good fit!

I also really loved Parker and his friend group; they always had such funny banter. I’d like to see what’s next for the rest of Parker’s friends (especially Cole) and the Bachelor Pact Series. (All opinions expressed are solely my own.)

Delaney juró no volver a enamorarse. Después de una relación a distancia que terminó en desilusión y vacío, lo único que desea es paz, estabilidad… y cero drama. Vive tranquila en Cedar Falls, rodeada de amigas fieles, su casa acogedora y un taller de joyería que le devuelve un poco de sí misma. El amor, definitivamente, no entra en sus planes.

Parker, por su parte, también tiene sus propias heridas. Atado a un viejo Pacto de Soltero con sus amigos, ha convencido al mundo y a sí mismo de que no está hecho para el compromiso. Pero hay algo en Delaney que desarma todas sus excusas: su sonrisa triste, su humor a prueba de cinismo, y esa fuerza que oculta tras una mirada cansada.

Cuando el destino y una cabaña en medio de la nieve los obliga a compartir más que espacio, las barreras que ambos habían levantado empiezan a resquebrajarse. Entre conversaciones sinceras, miradas intensas y momentos de inesperada intimidad, surge una conexión que podría reescribir todas las reglas.



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest.

This enjoyable story is book 2 in The Bachelor Pact series. I would recommend reading book 1 as the characters and some back stories are introduced in that one. This story focuses on Delaney, a town pharmacist who would rather be an artist, and Parker, an outdoorsman who wants to branch out into his own construction business. Both have been burned by past relationships and are hesitant, but undeniable chemistry takes over. If you like small town, open door romances, check this out.

Thank you, Boldwood Books, for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.