Young socialite, Tiffany Thompson, seems to have it all, everything but love, that is. Guarded since her high school boyfriend’s betrayal, she wouldn’t recognize real love if it hit her over the head. Unless it’s a can of paint, and successful financier Todd Jameson is behind it.
Todd fell hard and fast for Tiffany a year earlier, but, unwilling to risk his own heart after a college sweetheart … sweetheart shattered it, he avoids Tiffany and vows to keep his distance. Fate has other plans, however, and changes both their minds.
But not everyone is happy with their budding romance. Unbeknownst to either of them, a vengeful enemy stands in the shadows with plans to take Tiffany, and Todd is in the way.
Halfway around the world, Angela Bartholomew, a former foe in Tiffany’s circle, is serving a year-long sentence as a volunteer in a Romanian orphanage in payment for her lying, manipulative ways. That or be disinherited by her parents. The spoiled debutante is determined to get home at all cost, but Fate has plans for her, too, and Angela is not prepared for how her life will change.
Will love conquer heartbreak, or will greed and revenge ruin all three lives?
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Harkins has done it again! She’s given her readers a story about two people willing to risk their already-damaged hearts in order to give love one more try. It’s a familiar trope, because we’ve all been there, and we enjoy seeing how two young lovers find their way through. But Harkins offers more than romance in Taking Tiffany.
Sure, this book gives every romance reader exactly what they’re most desperate for, a stunning young couple on the cusp of love, and a front row seat to all that dares come between them, namely their own shattered hearts and the walls erected as a result. But, as they claw their way toward love and happiness, danger lurks for Todd and Tiffany, though they have no idea there’s an enemy nearby, let alone what’s about to happen to them.
As an avid reader of romantic suspense, I often see what’s coming on the horizon, but honestly, the big reveal at the end of Taking Tiffany floored me. I had no idea and couldn’t have possibly guessed who the mystery man was. That’s rare in this genre, so I applaud Ms. Harkins on stumping this savvy reader.
But this book offers so much more than that. As with her last book, Breaking Braydon, from which Tiffany and Todd were borne, there is much levity offered in the way of humor. Just at the right moment, the author tickles your funny bone, and you can’t help but giggle in relief. But that’s not to say there’s no angst. Believe me, there’s plenty of emotional turmoil here, not only between Todd and Tiffany, but also with Angela, a secondary arc leftover from Harkins’ last novel.
We came to despise Angela in Breaking Braydon, and rightfully so. She was entitled and meddlesome. And not much appears to have changed for her in Taking Tiffany, at least not at first. But the author soon takes you on Angela’s journey toward not just self-awareness, but toward redemption and atonement, though it’s not an easy odyssey. And while Angela wants nothing more than to return home to her life of ease and wealth, she soon confronts a war within her own soul and risks losing her defiantly reformed heart to not only the man who thwarts her at every turn, but the children she’s been forced to serve.
This book will touch you on so many levels with its heart and humor, its strength and message of perseverance in the face of loss and loneliness. Taking Tiffany wraps you in the arms of love, without rubbing your nose in what’s better left behind closed bedroom doors. It’s classy and dignified, fresh and resilient. And you are so gonna love it! A+, Ms. Harkins! Well done!
This has quickly bumped up my favorite books list. I really loved it. Loved it so much, as soon as I finished, I went right back to the beginning to read it again!
Tiffany was adorable! Ditto for Todd. I loved them both! Their relationship was fun to read and they had so much chemistry! MK Harkins has no trouble creating cute and clever romance; she’s nailed it with Taking Tiffany. I felt like Todd and Tiffany were old friends of mine from the very beginning. I loved all the secondary characters too and now I can’t wait to go back and read Breaking Braydon, because, yes, I haven’t read Breaking Braydon yet, BUT that didn’t make it hard to get right into Taking Tiffany. I had no trouble keeping up with this story. It can definitely stand on its own without the prequel. MK Harkins absolutely kept me guessing until the end too. I tried throughout the story to guess the badguy, but it took me quite a while to figure it out.
The first time I read from Angela’s POV I wasn’t sure I’d like her. Well, actually I was sure I wouldn’t like her, but I wasn’t sure I would like reading about her. I was so wrapped up in Tiffany’s story, I didn’t care to hear from Angela. But the more I read, the more I enjoyed reading these chapters. Angela’s story was extremely interesting. I found myself looking forward to these chapters.
I can honestly say, I enjoyed both story lines immensely. Well done, Ms. Harkins! I haven’t read The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks, but I watched the movie and this reminded me of that. Two very different stories all wrapped up into one. It’s really, really good!
I can’t wait to see what MK comes up with next, until then, I’m off to read Breaking Braydon!