Caffeinated Reviewer

Sophia Rose is here today with a review of A Thankful Heart by Melissa McClone. This is the second contemporary romance in the Love at the Chocolate Shop series. Come check out her thoughts on this small-town Thanksgiving holiday romance.

She believes chocolate and dogs are better than love. He believes big-city life is the only life worth living. Can Thanksgiving bring them together?

Chocolate is better than men, and so are dogs. At least, that’s what Dakota Parker tells herself as she mends her broken heart and finds forever homes for rescue animals. So far, so good. She can indulge her love of chocolate where she works while her foster dogs provide her with the unconditional love she craves. What more does she need?

Seattle architect Bryce Grayson is counting the days until he can return home to the big city with his father in tow. That is if he can convince his dad to leave Montana. Bryce’s escape plan, however, goes astray when he meets Dakota. Her sweet kisses put the chocolate she sells to shame. Maybe he should be the one to move to Marietta, but could he be happy living in such a small town?

He has until Thanksgiving to decide.

Sophia Rose’s Review

She loves chocolate and her dogs and her small town is paradise to her so why is she struggling to resist a city man who doesn’t like chocolate and hides a fear of dogs?  This is not my first venture into Melissa McClone’s sweet holiday romance stories and I was in just the mood for a sample of her delicious Thanksgiving holiday romance.

A Thankful Heart is a standalone holiday romance from the multi-author Love at the Chocolate Shop series that is part of the Copper Mountain and Marietta, MT world of stories.

Dakota Parker got jilted at the altar and she got a late diagnosis of dyslexia making her feel inferior to other people and her talented brother and sister, in particular, so she is completely against any romantic entanglements.  She puts all her time and energy into her job at the chocolate shop and her volunteer work at the animal shelter.  She is content and even happy right up until Bryce Grayson comes in as a rude customer at the chocolate shop.

Their small town is tight and she soon learns he’s there to look after his dad who broke his legs in a fall.  Bryce’s dad is one of her favorite people so no surprise they encounter one another again- and, he’s rude… again.  Yet one of her shelter dogs is keen on him and her own heart can’t stay calm around him especially when he’s helpful when the shelter has a water line break and must be evacuated and he helps with the shelter events to adopt out the cats and dogs and raise the money needed by Thanksgiving.

Bryce knows he was out of line the way he treated his dad’s kind, sweet friend, Dakota, but he’s focused on making his stubborn dad join him in Seattle where they can be together.  His dad insists he loves his town and isn’t lonely and that if Bryce wants to be together, he can do the uprooting and moving.  Then, there’s Dakota who he can’t seem to stop thinking about and wanting to be with her.  He even knows her secret about her learning disability and gives her full respect for writing up that shelter proposal and working tirelessly for the animals to find good homes and the smile she beams on everyone who comes into the chocolate shop even when she’s exhausted or sad.  Too bad, he’s headed back to Seattle after Thanksgiving.

A Thankful Heart is quintessential holiday romance.  The setting, activities, characters and romance development all come together with warmth and tenderness with holiday cheer.  Even the conflict to the romance and the conflict they face together have a cozy edge to them.  This was a charmer that is perfect for a free afternoon or to get one in the mood for the holidays.

Amazon

About Melissa McClone

USA Today Bestselling author Melissa McClone writes sweet romance and women's fiction novels. She's a graduate of Stanford Engineering with a mechanical engineering degree, but she found her passion writing stories with happily ever after endings. Melissa lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family that includes a very spoiled dog and two equally pampered cats.

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About Sophia Rose

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

Goodreads

About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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