USA Today bestselling author Caroline Fyffe invites you back to Eden, Colorado, where five sisters have inherited the town—and are winning over men’s hearts one by one.Since their father’s death summoned Lavinia Brinkman and her four sisters to Eden, Colorado, Lavinia has been content with her new life. Well, almost. Lavinia’s heart’s desire—creating the elaborate hats she loves—doesn’t belong in … hats she loves—doesn’t belong in this small town. How can she choose between the life she has and the life she wants? Especially when she’s so utterly vexed by the handsome scoundrel who’s just arrived in Eden.
Rhett Laughlin intends to fulfill a dream and open a profitable restaurant in the growing town. Instead, he’s marched right into trouble with one of Eden’s most eligible bachelorettes. But as much as Lavinia Brinkman is making things difficult, Rhett can’t keep himself from thinking about her.
With every spirited encounter, the animosity between Rhett and Lavinia is starting to look a lot like attraction. And the town of Eden is about to discover what happens when these rivals find what truly lies in their hearts…
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Book two in the Colorado Hearts series, this story focused on Lavinia Brinkman and Rhett Laughlin. It deals more with the sisters settling into life in Eden, and the conclusion of their first six months there. I found the book a bit slow and boring. The few incidents were quickly resolved and I didn’t find anything memorable about the story. It is, however, well-written with likable characters. In spite of my bland review, I am going to read book three, the final book in the series.
This is book 2 in a trilogy that was an easy-to-read western romance series. I enjoyed all 3 books. The characters were delightful and each book had a nice plot, with positive outcomes.
Loved it.
I love this story!
LIFE IN EDEN WAS AN ADVENTURE
Once again, Ms. Caroline Fyffe has taken her readers on a roller-coaster ride in this emotional journey of family, loss, secrets, new beginnings and love. The story has brought the five Brinkman sisters back to Eden, Colorado, where they were born, from their home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They must all agree to spend six months in Eden to inherit according to the will left by their father, John Brinkman.
The story will start with the wedding of Belle Brinkman to Five Sisters ranch foreman, Blake Harding. But a problem has happened as Lavinia was placing flowers, a piece of one will hit her in her eye. Now Lavinia is at the hotel in pain, and it’s time for the wedding. The stagecoach arrives, and it is thought that the new town doctor is on it.
Rhett Laughlin has moved to Eden, Colorado to open a restaurant and to try and fulfill his late brother, Shawn, dream. What a shock to be pulled in the hotel, and up the stairs to try and remove something from a ladies eye. She keeps referring to him as the doctor and insistent on his help, and not allowing him to clarify who he really is.
“It’s time to make some changes. His own future had yet to be determined.”
The plot of the story will be riddled with embarrassment, mystery, suspense, danger, secrets, dreams, and romance. Once the truth about who Rhett Laughlin is, Lavinia is mortified at what happened. Then to learn that a newspaper in San Francisco has been running weekly tell-all features about the Brinkman sisters has the girls upset, but the one person that they trust like a sister may be the source. That will lead to accusations, hurt feelings, and a riff in a lifelong friendship.
“Keep in mind, though; everyone has a skeleton or two in their closets.”
The town of Eden is seeing an influx of new arrivals, and some overheard conversations lead to danger. Lavinia will risk safety to learn more and then find herself lost in a heavily wooded area. She is lucky that Rhett noticed her heading to the meadow where she gathers flowers. But what she tells him will have him and the town leaders on alert.
“Some things are more powerful than fear.”
Lavinia’s plans were placed on hold when she and her sister went to Eden, and now that the six-month time period is nearly up, she has the opportunity to return to Philadephia and apprentice under a famous millinery. Her heart and mind are pulling her in two directions, one to pursue her dream, the other to remain near her sisters and the town she loves. Will a harrowing experience and rescue change her mind—or maybe a letter be the eye-opener she needs?
While the story has all five sisters and other key people in the town, this one mainly focuses on nineteen-year-old Lavinia and the friendship she develops with Rhett. Together, they have a way of bringing out the best in each other without judgment, and along the journey, they are falling in love. I think she would have made her father very proud. The greatest legacy she can leave is to continue in the direction she is going.
“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life. You make my heart sing. Why would I ever want to be anywhere else? But the watcher knows. Our life is only beginning.”
Reviewed by JoAnne
Book provided by Netgalley
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
True Heart’s Desire picks up where Heart of Eden, the first book in the Colorado Hearts series, leaves off. We are again in Eden, Colorado in the late 1800’s with the Brinkman sisters, Blake who is their brother-in-law and Belle’s husband and others we’ve met before along with some newcomers. This time Lavinia is front and center and keeps us on our toes. She first meets Rhett when her sister drags him to her hotel room thinking he’s the new doctor in town. He plays along so Lavinia can attend her oldest sister’s wedding after he flushes out her eye and reduces the pain but lies of omission are still lies especially considering how she acted and what she was wearing! It only got more interesting from there.
The story flowed smoothly between the town, the woods, forest, meadow, ranch and all the characters. There were a few stories being told and they tied in nicely. The characters had a depth to them especially those who had secrets to hide. As the story unfolds we are reminded of the primitiveness of the times and also the lawlessness. The sister’s lives and those of the ranch hands, the sheriff, the lawyer and others are intertwined and many go back to the relationship with the sisters deceased father, whom they were estranged from through no fault of his or theirs. They all have their hopes and dreams, most tied in with their inheritances of businesses previously owned by their father, but others not. Lavinia is torn since she feels a connection with Rhett but also a pull back to Philadelphia where they were raised.
There were emotional moments. I laughed and cried and couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. The pages turned quickly far into the night. There were family and friends, reminisces, hurt, sorrow, lies, anger, sadness, illegal activities, accidents, horses, Rhett’s dog, dreams fulfilled, love and affection and confidences along with a few twists and turns. The descriptions of the land, the food, the water, the meadow and the mountains made me feel like I was there. It was nice how their father was woven throughout the story even though he had died. There is a happily ever after or two in the offing but I can’t wait to be back in Eden once again.
True Heart’s Desire is another five star read from Fyffe. I can’t wait to read more in this series as well as some of her other historical romances.
Favorite Quote: Crossing the meadow to the stand of rainbow-colored grand buckwheat, as well as the plentiful supply o f alyssum, she began to carefully snap off stems of both. Within the forest, a ray of sun glimmered on a deer trail she’d not noticed before. Blake had talked about hidden falls somewhere up this way, and how much their father had loved spending time there, thinking about his girls, praying they’d return.
What a wonderful book. I loved True Heart’s Desire. I loved even more that Heart of Eden. I laughed at Lavinia and Rhett’s first encounter and thoroughly enjoyed every encounter and interaction since. I can not wait until book 3 to continue the Brinkman sisters’ stories.
Sisters are drawn back to their place of birth by their father’s will and then each given a business and a length of time they must stay in order to inherit. This is the premise from book one. If you haven’t read the first book, I suggest you do because it was an exciting, action packed love story and reading it will help understand what happens in book 2.
True Heart’s Desire focuses on Lavinia who immediately in the book is so embarrassed that she considers leaving town. That she doesn’t is what really starts the story and the romance between her and the hero. I love the sense of building love rather than just steamy lust. This is a clean read that focuses on feelings and attraction and definitely is centered around Christian morals. It would be a great series for teens as well as adults who enjoy historical Western romance and just great storytelling.
The author was kind enough to send me a book in advance of publication as I indicated I would read and review.
This is the second book in this series and it was another wonderful story that I loved.
One thing I have seen is Caroline Fyffe writes very believable and complex characters. She also writes every story with adventure and danger to give the reader a reason to keep on reading and having a hard time to put every story she writes down.
I am always taken right into the story and feel like I am a part of the time and town and even sometimes the family that she is writing about. I am always so excited to read one of her books and I am always thrilled for the story is so enthralling and I just have a hard time putting it down.
This is another dramatic story that I highly encourage you to read and I am very sure you will love it.
I would also recommend the first book in this series so you know the sisters in this story and the story behind this town of Eden, Colorado.
I received this ARC from the Publisher Montlake through NetGalley with no expectations of a review. However, I loved this story and wanted to review this book and hope to help others find good books to read.
Very well written. She took us back to Eden Colorado to visit the 5 Brinkman sisters. This book held my interest from start to finish. Rhett and Lavinia loved it!!
The story of Lavinia Brinkman, one of the five sisters, and Rhett Laughlin from San Francisco, California and his faithful companion “Dallas”. This book gives you so much laugher, some tears, and lots of smiles.
Rhett wants to live out his deceased brother, Shawn’s’ dream of opening a restaurant in the town of Eden. Can he do it? He prefers to work with his hands and build, but Rhett has a lot of sadness in his heart, decisions to be made and feels he owes it to his brother. As soon as he gets off the stagecoach he is whisked away to help a lady in distress “Lavinia”. In the days to follow, because of a circumstances and misunderstandings, Lavinia is embarrassed, angry and hurt. Of course, she also can’t stop thinking of the handsome Rhett.
Lavinia loves creating beautiful ladies hats and she manages and runs the hotel and its restaurant. She loves to pick flowers in the meadow and Rhett loves the peacefulness of the meadow. Lavinia has falling in love with Rhett dog “Dallas” (and so did I). Will they admit their feelings for one another? The town is growing and a lot of great things will come out of this, but will trouble also follow? Will Rhett be able to let go of his grief and have room for Lavinia? Can Lavinia stay out of trouble? Will Rhett be able to keep Lavinia safe?
I highly recommend this Second Book in the Colorado Hearts Series. Caroline Fyffe has never disappointment me in her writings, and I personally cannot wait for Book Three. Remember, we have three more sisters to read about. Come join us by enjoying True Heart’s Desire.
In True Heart’s Desire we go back for a visit to Eden, Colorado to find out what the Brinkman sisters are up to. Belle and Blake get married and just before the ceremony Lavina has an incident with her eye and she doesn’t think she will make the wedding. She decides the man arriving in town is the new doctor she calls for him to come look at her eye. Things go downhill from there when she discovers Rhett Laughlin isn’t the town’s new doctor. When the required six months are up, Lavina becomes conflicted as to whether or not she wants to say in Colorado or go back East where she thinks her dreams will come true. She has to decide where her true hearts desire really is before she can be truly happy.
This author has such a way of putting together a story with characters that pull you in right at the beginning of the story, where you can’t help but laugh, cry and cheer when things come together. These sisters are all very strong women, are loyal to each other and don’t give up no matter what situation comes their way. I felt like I was visiting old friends and meeting new ones on this visit back to Eden. I liked Rhett right away and felt so bad as he was dealing with guilt that he had put upon himself that really wasn’t fair. He was definitely a strong hero but didn’t try to overwhelm the heroine. I definitely was rooting for Rhett and wanted him to be happy. I definitely love stories that are beautifully wrapped around families and the strength that comes from a strong, loving family. The Brinkman sisters didn’t let anything get in the way of what they wanted. True Heart’s Desire has a strong plot with great characters, a bit of fun and laughter, a sexy hero and it all comes together quite nicely in the end. Another hit for this author.
I received an ARC from Netgally for an honest review.