Kait Nolan presents an engaging small town, second chance romance that will appeal to fans of Candis Terry’s Sweet, Texas; Jill Shalvis’ Lucky Harbor; and Ava Miles’ Dare Valley.
The best things happen while you’re acting…
The historic Madrigal theater, in the heart of downtown Wishful, is about to close its doors forever. A last ditch fund-raising effort, a production of White Christmas, is … White Christmas, is probably the only thing that could bring Tyler Edison out of retirement. She fell in love on that stage, but when Brody Jensen abandoned her, she lost the heart to sing and dance for the crowd. Maybe it’s time to take that back…
It seems like pure chance when Brody’s job, which has taken him all over the world, brings him back to his little hometown to oversee his boss’s latest secret project. Brody’s looking for closure, planning to sell the house his parents left him and finally put his past, and his memories of Tyler, behind him. What better way than to be a part of this last show? Even though his leading lady is surely long gone…
Put on your dancing shoes, auditions start at six o’clock.
Be Careful, It’s My Heart is a novella of approximately 39k words.
Books in the Wishful Series (May Be Read Out of Order):
Once Upon A Coffee (short story–try it FREE!)
To Get Me To You (novel)
Be Careful, It’s My Heart (novella)
Excerpt:
“Okay, let’s see where you are, Brody,” called Nate. “‘The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing’, from the top.”
She didn’t smile now as he crossed the stage. Her face was set in a carefully neutral expression. Fine. He could be every bit as professional as she could. Brody reached for her, curving one hand around her waist, the other taking her free hand. They fit. They’d always fit.
Somebody queued up the music. Tyler glanced down as if checking the position of their feet, which was ridiculous since she knew exactly where her feet were in the pitch black dark. The faint trace of color high in her cheeks gave her away. So she wasn’t as unaffected as she wanted him to believe. Brody could see the thrum of her pulse at the base of her throat, felt the answering echo of his own as she lifted her head again, focusing on his eyes.
She was stiff at first, resisting his lead. They stumbled a few times. He missed several steps. Then she did. And then the song was over, and she was frowning, knowing they botched the number.
“Okay, try it again, and this time, Tyler, remember you aren’t doing an impression of a fence post. Loosen up,” ordered Nate.
She took a moment, closed her eyes as if to center herself, then nodded. With a roll of her neck, she shook out all her limbs. Brody felt the difference in her posture as soon as she took position again. The music swelled, and they locked eyes. On cue, they began to move, and at last, at long last, he felt like he was home. Everyone and everything faded except the music and the woman in his arms.
He led, spun, dipped, and by the time she broke away into a quick shuffle tap, her eyes were sparking with fun and her cheeks were flushed with exertion. Brody found himself grinning, improvising in response, as he couldn’t remember this section of choreography to save his soul. He watched her, starting to follow her lead, mimicking, mirroring as they came back together and whirled around the stage. And at last they ended, Tyler in a deep dip over his knee, her face flushed and smiling, her chest heaving.
“Excellent!” called Nate. “You’re remembering how to move together.”
Something hot and dark flashed in Tyler’s eyes. Brody tugged her up, into his arms, and held her a moment too long, letting the awareness, the heat sink in. No, he hadn’t forgotten what it was to move with her–on stage or in the dark. Neither had she.
more
Tyler Eidson and Brody Jensen fell in love eight years ago while performing together in the musicals put on at the Madrigal theater in Wishful, but then Brody left and broke Tyler’s heart. Tyler quit performing and her life is now built around running the family hardware store. Brody quit and has worked his way up to general contractor.
The Madrigal has fallen on hard times and the some of the townspeople have decided to put on a fundraising performance of White Christmas in hopes of saving the theater. Tyler’s best friends talk her into coming out of retirement and trying out for one of the leads. Brody happens to be in town doing a restoration project for his boss and happens to hear about the auditions and decides to investigate. He stumbles upon one of Tyler’s auditions and it is like time stands still, however he doesn’t make himself known to Tyler. Right before the cast is revealed, Tyler learns that Brody is in town, so while she isn’t completely shocked to see his name on the cast sheet, she is upset that he is an understudy for the male lead.
Tyler figures that she can handle being in Brody’s proximity until and accident happens to her friend and the male lead and Brody must take over. When Brody and Tyler touch, magic happens only Tyler doesn’t want her heart broken again. Brody and Tyler soon learn that a twist of fate and injured pride has kept them apart for the last eight years, but can they overcome that and start a new future together? Will Brody decide to stay in Wishful permanently and make a life with Tyler?
Can the Madrigal be saved or will it all be for naught? You will enjoy reading the book and finding out the answers, but be warned there is a twist included that I promise you won’t see coming.
This is Book 3 in the Wishful series. These should be read//listened to in order as storylines build on events/characters/situations from previous books. While titles are sold individually, the series has been collected into box sets of 3 books each. Be Careful, It’s My Heart is part of Volume 1 which is available in ebook & audio formats.
This one didn’t work for me as well as the other stories in the series and I’m pretty sure it’s because I have never seen White Christmas – in either its play or movie form. Since the bulk of the story revolves around the production of the play for the town of Wishful and there were a lot of references to the storyline of White Christmas, I wasn’t able to connect with it as fully as I think I would have.
That said, it’s still a cute second-chance romance. A big misunderstanding sent Brody & Tyler on separate paths years ago and a lack of communication threatens to keep them from working things out this time. Queue the positively-meddling folks of Wishful and their joined forces to save an aging theatre while simultaneously keeping Brody & Tyler from making the same mistakes.
Amy McFadden continues giving an expanding townsfolk their own unique voices, while keeping old favorites consistent from previous books. I don’t know if McFadden color codes these folks or what, but if she does it’s definitely an impressive rainbow of voices she has in her repertoire.
Bookends
That is what Brody’s mom called him & Tyler. They fell in love young, but we’re friends before and then he left, and never got his note & the ticket. Now he is back and they are trying to save the theater, but there is more, can they find them again.
I have been provided with a copy of Be Careful, It’s My Heart by the author for an impartial review. This is the second novel in the Wishful Romance series and you get to see Tyler Edison and Brody Jensen find their way back to each other. This book was such a quick and easy read it just had me in its grip. I truly fell in love with these characters and I felt for them. I can’t wait to read more by this author.
This is a lighthearted fun read. If you enjoy small town romance this series, set in Wishful, is full of small town charm and community spirit. While the main characters Brody and Tyler get a second chance at love they also manage to save the historic theatre for Wishful. Most of the characters are familiar from first book in the series and it is like visiting old friends and I look forward to more visits.
Warm and inspiring that shares small town sense of community.
This is book 2 of the Wishful series. In typical Kait Nolan fashion her characters come to life and become part of your set of friends, the ones you want to hang out with on a lazy afternoon or when you need someone to have your back. Be Careful, It’s My Heart is a true second chance story. Brody and Tyler were high school sweethearts whose story started when they were the stars of their high school musicals. Brody left suddenly eight years earlier expecting Tyler to follow him. When she never showed up he figured she chose Wishful over him. Now he’s back in town on a construction project and finds out that the town is rallying to save the Madigral theatre from demolition. He decides to throw his hat in the ring and join the cast. Will he get the chance to see if there’s still magic between him and Tyler on stage? If so, maybe it’s still there off stage….
Be Careful, It’s My Heart is a fun, quick, quirky romance from a true Southern small town where everybody knows your business. If you’re looking for some light reading with Southern charm this will satisfy your craving.
While the begining of the book was perfectly sweet, full of charming secondary characters and an endearing plot (saving the town’s old theatre), I was quite disappointed by the main characters big fall-out (clearly mandatory in romance stories about 2/3 into the book). It seemed forced, story-wise, and a bit stupid coming from characters who, at this point, should know better because they already made the same mistakes in the past.
Brody left Wishful for good eights years ago. But now that he is back for a job he can’t help but get involved in saving old Madrigal theatre playing a role in the musical. Even if it means face Tyler again. She refused to left town with him and he tried to move on with his lofe, but seeing her again stirs old feelings in his heart. Tyler was so broke when Brody left that she barely was able to carry on with her life. Can she risk been hurt again if she open to Brody again? A sweet love story.
Another beautiful, heartfelt story in Wishful, MS and the second chance love story of Tyler and Brody. Interesting plot, poetic writing style and the loveable characters will keep you engaged throughout the story. A standalone with no cliffhanger.