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Always in Her Heart
MARRYING MAN?
In the eight years since their romance had ended in confusion, Link Morgan and Annie Gideon had barely spoken. But when tragedy left twenty-month-old Marcy, Link's goddaughter and Annie's niece, parentless, the two stepped in to protect her—by getting married.
The plan was for Annie to care for the baby, and Link—never the family man—to handle the finances. That part was easy. But Link's growing feelings for Annie were proving difficult.
As he saw Annie's tough exterior weaken, Link was discovering the beautiful, vulnerable woman he'd known underneath, and he wondered how he'd ever let her go. But he also wondered how a man who'd never known a happy home would ever be able to create one…
In the eight years since their romance had ended in confusion, Link Morgan and Annie Gideon had barely spoken. But when tragedy left twenty-month-old Marcy, Link's goddaughter and Annie's niece, parentless, the two stepped in to protect her—by getting married.
The plan was for Annie to care for the baby, and Link—never the family man—to handle the finances. That part was easy. But Link's growing feelings for Annie were proving difficult.
As he saw Annie's tough exterior weaken, Link was discovering the beautiful, vulnerable woman he'd known underneath, and he wondered how he'd ever let her go. But he also wondered how a man who'd never known a happy home would ever be able to create one…
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 2003
About the author
Marta Perry
176 books784 followersMarta Perry is a Pennsylvania-based author of over 35 novels, many of them inspirational romances. She uses her rural Pennsylvania life and her Pennsylvania Dutch heritage in writing her books, especially in her Pleasant Valley Amish series for Berkley Books and her new Amish-set suspense series for HQN Books.
Marta and her husband live in a centuries-old farmhouse in a quiet central Pennsylvania valley. They have three grown children and six beautiful grandchildren, and when she's not busy writing her next book, she's usually trying to keep up with her gardening, baking for church events, or visiting those beautiful grandkids.
Marta and her husband live in a centuries-old farmhouse in a quiet central Pennsylvania valley. They have three grown children and six beautiful grandchildren, and when she's not busy writing her next book, she's usually trying to keep up with her gardening, baking for church events, or visiting those beautiful grandkids.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 9, 2024
I've lost count of how many times I've read this book, but every single time, it has been amazing!! I love the characters, the plot, the setting, the romance; I love it all! This is my favorite Love Inspired book that I've read so far, and I recommend this 1,000%!!!
July 15, 2022
I really liked this book.
August 15, 2022
"Always in her Heart" is a misnomer - the book even starts out with "Marry you? I don't even LIKE you!" Annie *doesn't* like Link, either. She hasn't for years and years. She's despised him, tolerated him only for her sister's sake. So... flawed premise, already.
Now Annie's sister (and Link's best friend) are gone... and have left behind Marcy, a two year old baby with no guardianship set up. Link was co-owner of a business with Marcy's dad... well, each had 30%, and the other 30% was split between three other people. One of those people is Marcy's second cousin (the dead daddy's cousin), and he 1) is financially unwell due to bad spending habits, 2) power mad to own the company, and 3) had always been jealous of his cousin and wanting to have everything he did: the ancestral home, the company, and now the baby.
Annie's from out of town, single, and unknown... but she loves Marcy more than anyone. Link decides the only/best thing for Marcy's happiness is for Annie to get custody - but with cousin Lester married, established locally, and pretending to be a doting uncle all of the sudden, she doesn't stand a chance - unless she marries Link... who is also respected, established locally, and invested in Marcy's life/well-being.
The problem is, Link didn't approve of Annie's sister's marriage. They forgave him long ago for trying to interfere, but Annie hasn't... and she doesn't like or trust him.
So basically the whole book is putting on fakes to make it look like the like each other, are working as a team, and are romantically inclined so as to be Marcy's parents... whilst snapping at each other in private. It's NOT a fun read.
Worse, Perry can't make up her mind. On pg 51 Link is irritable because Annie was so 'cold' and composed during the initial hearing - wouldn't it be *nice* if she showed SOME emotion? Then on pg 67 Annie shows emotion, and Link "had to get this marriage thing back to a safe, rational business footing, with no erratic flashes of emotion". So which is it? Annie's cold and he hates it, or she's rational, and he hates it?
Basically? Link's a heartless jerk only fixated on his company for most of the book. He realizes it towards the end, but MAN, he's stone hard and unappealing the entire book. There's no romance to be had here, except what they're faking to make the community think they're together. It's NOT a romance book. It's just painful.
Which is why when moonlight catches Link on pg 127 and Annie 'realizes' she's in love with him, it makes no sense. What, because he's handsome? There's no faith, other than some vague God references here and there and church attendance (mostly to appear like good upright parents for Marcy). It's not his charm or wit or humor. He basically sucks... and has a sad backstory to rationalize his behavior.
I can let this one go without feeling badly at all about it.
Now Annie's sister (and Link's best friend) are gone... and have left behind Marcy, a two year old baby with no guardianship set up. Link was co-owner of a business with Marcy's dad... well, each had 30%, and the other 30% was split between three other people. One of those people is Marcy's second cousin (the dead daddy's cousin), and he 1) is financially unwell due to bad spending habits, 2) power mad to own the company, and 3) had always been jealous of his cousin and wanting to have everything he did: the ancestral home, the company, and now the baby.
Annie's from out of town, single, and unknown... but she loves Marcy more than anyone. Link decides the only/best thing for Marcy's happiness is for Annie to get custody - but with cousin Lester married, established locally, and pretending to be a doting uncle all of the sudden, she doesn't stand a chance - unless she marries Link... who is also respected, established locally, and invested in Marcy's life/well-being.
The problem is, Link didn't approve of Annie's sister's marriage. They forgave him long ago for trying to interfere, but Annie hasn't... and she doesn't like or trust him.
So basically the whole book is putting on fakes to make it look like the like each other, are working as a team, and are romantically inclined so as to be Marcy's parents... whilst snapping at each other in private. It's NOT a fun read.
Worse, Perry can't make up her mind. On pg 51 Link is irritable because Annie was so 'cold' and composed during the initial hearing - wouldn't it be *nice* if she showed SOME emotion? Then on pg 67 Annie shows emotion, and Link "had to get this marriage thing back to a safe, rational business footing, with no erratic flashes of emotion". So which is it? Annie's cold and he hates it, or she's rational, and he hates it?
Basically? Link's a heartless jerk only fixated on his company for most of the book. He realizes it towards the end, but MAN, he's stone hard and unappealing the entire book. There's no romance to be had here, except what they're faking to make the community think they're together. It's NOT a romance book. It's just painful.
Which is why when moonlight catches Link on pg 127 and Annie 'realizes' she's in love with him, it makes no sense. What, because he's handsome? There's no faith, other than some vague God references here and there and church attendance (mostly to appear like good upright parents for Marcy). It's not his charm or wit or humor. He basically sucks... and has a sad backstory to rationalize his behavior.
I can let this one go without feeling badly at all about it.
February 11, 2022
An enjoyable read.
Annie is a strong, intelligent female character but there are times when she seems a little too wishy washy (ie. the reason for her 8-year grudge against Link, her reaction after burning the quiche, the never ending worrying that she is not good enough/doesn't fit in especially when she is clearly likeable and capable). I also would have liked to read more about Julia's dislike of possibly raising a child - especially after the supervised home visit...this plot line was neglected but could have been quite interesting.
Annie is a strong, intelligent female character but there are times when she seems a little too wishy washy (ie. the reason for her 8-year grudge against Link, her reaction after burning the quiche, the never ending worrying that she is not good enough/doesn't fit in especially when she is clearly likeable and capable). I also would have liked to read more about Julia's dislike of possibly raising a child - especially after the supervised home visit...this plot line was neglected but could have been quite interesting.
January 21, 2021
Sometimes, like these times, you really need a good hearted book. There was enough emotion in here that I can't say it was a light read, but the growth in the characters and the happy ever after were satisfying. I'll definitely read more by this author.
February 14, 2018
A sweet story
A sweet story to help us remember what is truly important in life. Also that God can use the hard things in life to make something good.
A sweet story to help us remember what is truly important in life. Also that God can use the hard things in life to make something good.
January 22, 2008
I'm beginning to be a little ashamed of myself for reading so many books with "mass market paperback" after their titles. Still, I enjoyed this one. It had my favorite plot used in so many of these books where the couple is forced to marry and fall in love afterward.
November 29, 2010
Marta, I absolutely LOVED this book! Love, love, loved it! The characters were remarkable, the plot a refreshing change, the actions and reactions of the characters so realistic! You did an amazing job. Thanks for the treat!
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November 20, 2007Read
August 28, 2010
always an easy read - keep something like this in my purse or Dr offices or waiting any where.
August 6, 2011
Good read. Read it in 1 day.
April 8, 2013
Once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down!
April 28, 2013
Cute book.
December 2, 2014
I absolutely LOVED the book.
June 7, 2016
Link and Morgan's relationship didn't work out years ago but they must make it now to become the family for little Marcy, Morgan's niece.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews