Three of Hearts

Hamden #1

by W. Ferraro

Mae Turney is searching for the type of life and happiness she has never known but has only dreamed about. She's fortunate enough to find a great opportunity to live in an exterior apartment of a beautiful lake house in a small town in Vermont. When she realizes the apartment and scenery are not the only gorgeous appeal but the home owner, Seth Finn, is as well, she puts it all on the line for the chance at love. When she becomes comfortable and confident in her own skin and sexuality, Mae realizes that this place and this man is exactly what she came looking for. Knowing Seth and his three children are as special as they come, Mae bets the house, and prays she and her gamble are enough.

Genres: Romance, Erotica, Contemporary Romance, Amazon, Contemporary, Adult, Ebooks

238 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 13, 2012

About the author

I live in New England with my young family. I'm a stay at home mom to two very active children. For all of you who are familiar with the stress of this job, I decided to complete an item on my bucket list and write a book. When I'm not writing, you will find me cooking, reading, shopping or being silly with the kids.

I wish you all happy reading and hope you fall in love with the men of Hamden.

please like my facebook page, fb\Books by W. Ferraro

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much as I liked the premise of this story, the execution fell a little flat for me. It was an insta-love situation pretty much from the beginning, not only between the two main characters but the children and Mae. A kick ass editor would've been a TREMENDOUS benefit as well. I did enjoy all of the side characters and cute little Megan was a plus.

[Sarah Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm overjoyed that I finished this, and can't believe that I actually did, came so close to abandoning, so many times.

The book has been reviewed so many times so I'm not going to tell you what the story is about, however what I will advise is that the book is written in a very, very basic style. I was totally and utterly fed up, close to hair pulling, with the "he said", "she said" routine which was accompanied by very little emotion, we are informed that people are sad, smiling and "gleeful" but beyond this it was difficult to gauge the characters feelings.

There is also a good pinch of grammatical errors which will leave you reading a sentence or paragraph a couple of times, just to make sure you read it correctly, I found myself questioning my sanity, reading ability and eye health - "after all these years have I forgotten how to read, or is my eyesight failing rapidly?"

There is also the overuse of the characters names. When we're in a conversation with someone do we always use their name when answering a direct question or statement, maybe once or twice but certainly not if there is no-one else in the room.

The book wasn't for me and unfortunately, whilst I the story could be made good, it did have the feel of a first draft.

I won't be downloading the others in the series, I am a little disappointed as the reviews were so very good.

[Beverley Hollowed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just Finished this beautifully written book and I want to read it again.. I loved the sexy Seth Finn and I adored the strong and beautiful Mae Turney...this was a story of second chance love and it had me addicted from the very first page. Loved all the other Character in the book and I can't wait for each of there individual stories which are coming soon. This is one not to miss..5 Star for Wendy Ferraro..you rock xx

[Chris- Bookaddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was asked to review this book by Wendy .

I went into this book only knowing about it by the book blurb .

Mae, an Oncology Nurse Moved to Hamden to get away from the business and fly by of Boston. She rents an apartment from Seth who is a widow with 3 kids. They immediately hit it off and from there a relationship is formed with Seth & Mae as well as Mae and the kids . I loved Mae, she was a normal Plump woman who cared about the people around her . She had a heart of gold in my opinion.

Seth , who was a widow and father of 3 amazing kids . I liked Seth although I think his method of going slow in a relationship leads a lot to be desired lol . One thing I really disliked about Seth was the whole bar scene with Mae , That was totally disrespectful . In my opinion no matter what happens with someone when you talk to someone you supposedly love like that . That was my only fault with Seth .

Overall this is a great romance story , about moving on after you lose one of the most important people in your life . It shows you that you can have love again when you least expect it .

Book Blurb:

Mae Turney is searching for the type of life and happiness she has never known but has only dreamed about. She's fortunate enough to find a great opportunity to live in an exterior apartment of a beautiful lake house in a small town in Vermont. When she realizes the apartment and scenery are not the only gorgeous appeal but the home owner, Seth Finn, is as well, she puts it all on the line for the chance at love. When she becomes comfortable and confident in her own skin and sexuality, Mae realizes that this place and this man is exactly what she came looking for. Knowing Seth and his three children are as special as they come, Mae bets the house, and prays she and her gamble are enough

I will be reading the next book in this series as well because I need to see if Dylan Mr. Playboy can settle down lol ….

Thanks Wendy for the opportunity to read this story and get into the lives of Mae & Seth

[Smitten's Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, before I begin this review, I want to start off by saying that I would never advise somebody not to read a book. I will advise on what books I have loved and will speak as I find about all books I have read. But I truly believe that every book has an audience and that the saying 'no two people read the same book' is so very true.

That said, unfortunately, this book wasn't for me, so I'm giving it 2.5 stars. I started it last week and just couldn't connect with the characters. I don't know why and I can't put my finger on anything specific, I just couldn't immerse myself in the characters' worlds.

I liked both Mae and Seth, there was nothing to dislike (in the beginning, but we'll come to that in a sec) But I found myself wondering about the weather or what I was having for dinner that evening.

I put the book down at 40% and decided to have a change for a while. After another couple of books, I started on Three of Hearts again. I will admit, for a while, I thought maybe I would have more luck the second time around, but I still wasn't feeling entirely engaged. I felt that the book kind of dragged with nothing much happening.

And then I got to the 70% mark and I was totally shocked. Now, I'm no prude but if any man spoke to me like this, in a crowded, public bar, in front of all of our friends, not to mention about something so trivial, he would be eating his balls for breakfast!!!

"You don't ever get to fucking decide what is my business and what isn't my business when it comes to my kids, Mae. You knew how I felt about him driving that boat and you deliberately didn't tell me so you could, what, get all fucked out and then when you got your rocks off you were going tell me? When I was finished fucking going down on you?"

"Now you can get your fucking ass out of my house tonight. Stay the fuck away from my kids and stay the fuck away from me."

And this is the woman he loves??? Pffft, yeh right. I don't care how annoyed someone is, you don't speak to the person you love, with such little respect. For me that kind of put the tin lid on it. After that, Seth irritated me and I couldn't see past the way he had treated Mae. I felt like the author was trying to create a climax that really shouldn't have been all that climatic. A simple, civilized discussion would have been more appropriate and much more in keeping with the characters in my opinion.

The other thing that annoyed me was Seth and Mae's decision to 'take things slowly'... the next thing you know, they're having sex on a rock by the lake...!!! And this man has three kids and is supposed to be being careful about who he brings into their lives. It was all a bit far fetched for me.

Other than my issue with Seth's outburst and the way Mae and Seth threw themselves into 'taking it slow', this is not a bad book. I just didn't connect with the story, and sometimes, I think it just goes that way. It isn't poorly written and the characters are, on the whole, likeable. Seth's kids are adorable and the surrounding characters work well. I think maybe some of the dialogue didn't sit quite right with me. It was a little formal and OTT for my liking.

"I need you. I need to feel what only you and I can feel; the miraculous sensation of when our hearts touch and our souls entwine."

But, as I mentioned, every book has it's audience and no doubt others will read this and fall deeply in love with Seth. Mae is a great character and is pretty easy to love, so I think I can see a lot of women relating to her.

"You are not a replacement in any way; you are your own person and what I feel for you, is yours and wholly yours."

I'd be interested to hear the opinions of others' on this book to see if it was just my own issues that stopped me from investing in Mae and Seth's story.

To read more reviews go to my Book Blog: http://smittensbookblog.wordpress.com/
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SmittenSC
Find me on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/smittensc/
Join in the chat on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/427743...

[Confessions Of A Book Heaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like us on Facebook
Read More Reviews On My Blog

This book was a breath of fresh air!!! I can't believe how much I enjoyed reading it!! This book held my attention the way that high anticipated sequels hold my attention! I LOVED IT!
I've been reading so many books lately about Young Adults and teenage girls. It was a nice change to read about a WOMAN and a MAN.
Mae is just awesome! Mature, self sufficient, no baggage and she has a career. She moves to Vermont for a change of pace and ends up renting an apartment from a widower named Seth. Seth is the father of two boys and one girl, while he's doing a great job at it... You know there's something missing from this family. Mae fits in perfectly, she's a genuinely kind, gentle, and patient person!
I love their interactions, they waste no time getting straight to the point. Two people who think there could be something more than friendship between them. No games, no waiting... They go for it. What warms my heart even more is their consideration for the kids, they both make a conscious effort to make sure the kids are ok with what's going on.
Seth just warms my heart! He's so damn sweet!..... BUT I KNEW!!! Under all that sweetness making me swoon every other chapter.. Saying things like:

“Mae do you feel me deep inside you?” he asked huskily, and she nodded. Seth continued “What you feel is the love I have for you. Did you hear me Mae? I love you.” laid a man capable of pissing me off like no other.

Was a man capable of pissing me off like none other! AND BOY DID HE PISS ME OFF!!!!
I had to step away from my iPad and breathe, because I wanted inflict bodily harm on that man!!!
After the inevitable angst Mae stood her ground (I won't elaborate because I don't want to spoil it). And I was very proud of her!!!
This book ended perfectly! I felt satisfied and I'm so glad I took the time out the read this book!!!
I can't wait to Read Three of Spades and EVERYTHING else Mrs. Ferraro releases! I'm definitely a fan!

[Mary Tatar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three Of Hearts was such a sweet, heartwarming love story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I have to tell you that this isn't your ordinary love story. What pulled me into this book was that it was a love story between Mae, Seth, and his three children. Seth is a widower who's wife passed away from cancer. Mae is a nurse who works in oncology. She ends up renting an apartment from him. There is an obvious mutual attraction between them. Mae has some body issues with her being curvy. Seth just sees her as the most beautiful woman inside and out. Who wouldn't want that? I liked getting to know his children Conner, Aiden, and Megan as well. They all were very likable characters.

Seth is a very loving, caring, and protective father. I loved seeing him interact with his children and also with Mae. Seth was also loving towards Mae. Each and every time he called Mae honey I just fell in love with him even more. Now he did have a bit of an Irish temper. Nothing wrong with that right? Mae is a great match for him she is also loving, caring, and protective. She also is a little vulnerable especially towards his family. She would do anything for Seth and his family. Mae is an all around special person.

Like any good love story you can expect some ups and downs. Also some outside interferences. Mae and Seth have some really great friends and family to help them along the way. So I'm sure you won't want to miss out on their lovely story. These two really do deserve to be happy. Seth and his children have had to deal with a very great loss. I couldn't ever imagine how hard it would be to lose your wife and mother of your children. Finding love again without any regret is a main theme during this story. They work so good together as a family and it feels almost as if fate intervened when they needed each other the most. Please consider reading this story. It opened my heart up and yours will too.

[Edee Fallon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The relationship between Seth and Mae moved a little too quickly in the beginning but I definitely enjoyed the steaminess of their communion. I wish the angst of the beginning of their relationship was prolonged to intensify the moment of surrender. I enjoyed all the characters, especially the children. As the story progressed, so did my fondness for this book. I appreciate Seth's character flaws, considering I have an Irish temper myself. What he said to Mae in the bar was OUTRAGEOUS and then to dismiss her need to discuss the situation really pissed me off. Also, using the kids to get her back was a low blow. As much as I was angered by his actions, any book that engages me enough to have strong emotions toward it is a book that I like and appreciate. On to book two!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for a slow, even paced and sweet read this is the book for you.

The book was interesting just a little to slow for my liking I was happy when at around 75 % through the book that the pace picked up. The ending was beautiful.

[The BookChick · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating: ❤❤❤

GOOD: The characteristics of a 3 star book include: interesting characters, a decent storyline, and unique story elements; there was something about the story that I didn’t completely connect with; the book is a solid read. I would recommend it to a friend.

This book was provided by the author for an honest review.

My Thoughts:
Three of Hearts is an introduction to the Hamden series by author W. Ferraro. Set in scenic Hamden, Vermont, Three of Hearts chronicles the romantic journey of Mae Tourney and Seth Finn. I will not do a complete recap on the story because I encourage other readers to form their own opinions about the story.

Mae was portrayed as a sweet, caring, and wonderful woman. She endeared herself to everyone around her because of her genuinely delightful nature. Seth started off as very affectionate and sweet and his children -- Megan, Aidan, and Conner -- were absolutely adorable. Even Seth's friends Wes, the thinker, and Dylan, the bad boy, were standup and completely likeable characters. The premise of the story was well thought out out and I just knew the story would be light and easy reading.

And it was...but...........

The pacing of the story felt a bit off to me. The characters barely knew each other and Mae had been living at Seth's house for only a couple of days before he got jealous of her male friends, Robert and Leo. And Seth didn't just get jealous...he got mean. After having an evening with her two friends, who are a gay couple, Seth confronted Mae by saying:

"No you and your boy toys were not loud at all, but I have to say you didn't strike me as the type to be into threesomes.

Ummm...excuse me sir but when does having company of the opposite sex automatically equal naked Twister time?!?! It just was so out of place. Seth verbally attacked Mae without having any clue about whether the men were friends, business associates, family...nada! He just started flinging accusations at her. And then, I kid you not...one flip of my Kindle page has him asking her:

"Do you have any idea what it is like to walk around all day with a hard on thinking about you and then to see you with two guys?"

Ummm...No! Mae and Seth are still virtually strangers at this point. She had no foreknowledge of his penile state. Why would she?!?! They were strangers! But 4 seconds later Mae and Seth are all over each other. If I hadn't just clicked the page I would have thought that I missed something because it happened so fast. And from then on, their relationship proceeds at a break neck pace, in my opinion. Seth immediately starts calling her "honey" and ensconcing her in his home and around his children. The pacing actually seemed more appropriate for a novella or short story rather than a full length novel. My Kindle was only at 14% when their lives started merging together.

From 15-69% the story is...nice. I am pausing when I say nice because it really was but it felt too perfect. Too fairytale like. Seth's family loves Mae. Seth's friends love Mae. Seth's housekeeper loves Mae. It's just a Mae lovefest. And although it was sweet and...nice. It actually made the story a bit laborious to read. Family times. Nice loving. Sweet gestures. Rinse and repeat. For 54% of the story. There was nothing to keep the story interesting or engaging. It lacked intensity.

And then at 70% the story flips completely. Seth finds out that Mae is keeping a "secret" from him. I will preface my additional comments by saying that the "something" was really a benign thing that could have been handled with a simple adult conversation. Seth is a "jumping to conclusions" kind of guy and instead of talking to Mae he was judge, jury, and executioner without ever allowing her to plead her case.

After telling Mae that he loved her, just a few pages earlier, he calls her out and totally embarrasses her in public by saying...excuse me...screaming:

"You don't ever get to fuc$%ing decide what is my business and what isn't my business when it comes to my kids, Mae."

Bad form, Seth. Bad form! But does he stop? Unh uh! He continues by adding insult to injury when he says:

"You deliberately didn't tell me so you could, what, get all fuc$%ed out and then when you got your rocks off you were going to tell me? When I finished fuc$%ing going down on you?"

If Mae were me the words "the end" would have followed Seth's diatribe because I would have kilt...yes kilt!...him. He talked to Mae like she was street trash and he loved her?!?!? And after treating her worse than scum, he begs her to take him back and thinks that sex, instead of talking, is the cure-all to the problem that HE caused. In the beginning of the story Seth starts out as a reasonably likable character but ends up a highly detestable one.

Honestly and truly, the book just fell flat for me at 70% because of Seth's behavior and Mae's passivity. I'm not saying that she had to kill Seth, *eye roll* but she should have expressed more anger at the way he treated her and then disregarded her feelings on top of everything.

A note from the author:

“My type of writing includes characters that are not perfect. Meaning I try to make them as real as possible. Characters with flaws and baggage. They are not perfect, they don’t handle situations the best and they are not always politically correct. To me to read a story where characters are perfect and everything is lovey dovey just makes you feel not quite fulfilled at the end. I hope my style shows that true happiness and HEA can and do happen.”

I think Ms. Ferraro was very successful in accomplishing her goal. Seth was definitely flawed and so was Mae in a certain respect. I wanted her to “get mad” and she never did. Conversely, that’s all Seth managed to do. Well, that and overreact. The characters in Three of Hearts were flawed but sweet. Their happiness was evident at the end of the story when it returned to its former fairytale-like nature after a few pages of conflict between Seth and Mae ending with a happily ever after.

I end this review on an editorial note. I know that there will always be some degree of imperfection in published fiction. It’s almost a given in this rise of the Indie age. I applaud all of the Indie authors who make their place in the publishing world. With that said, there were more than a few editing challenges in this book. There were misused or misspelled words and the word order in a few areas could have been better aligned so that there was a more even flow in the text.

Despite my challenges with Three of Hearts, Ms Ferraro did a good job in creating a idyllic world in beautiful Hamden, Vermont. I’m sure the series will be get even better as it goes along and I am certain that contemporary romance lovers will wholeheartedly enjoy this story.

Visit The BookChick Blog

[Mummy's Naughty Corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an Okay read for me. Nothing special but nothing too bad either. It is an instant love. There was a lot of back and fourth between the characters. I liked the idea that it was a single dad. I liked the way you saw her gt the children's approval. It was just a basic story line. What I call a nice feel good read.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three of Hearts is the first book in the Hamden series by W. Ferraro. I went into this book not knowing what to expect. I knew it was romance, but I didn’t know what else. I would have to say this is the first real romance book that I’ve read. I kept waiting for something horrible to happen, and some crazy plot twist to come, but it didn’t. I mean there were a few parts that were pretty emotional. With that being said, this is definitely a light hearted read that is absolutely perfect for a summer read, while having a day on the beach!

The main characters are very well written and simple yet complex. Mae, is just looking for a place to call home when she meets Seth. She ends up renting his apartment, which happens to be attached to the house. Needless to say, They start noticing a rather abundant attraction to each other. W. Ferraro did an amazing job with the imagery and the characters. I loved the fact that Mae was a bigger girl. CHEERS to that. How about that as a breath of fresh air. I also loved how the main male character Seth, was a GINGER. I LOVE me a ginger man. Truth be told, I may just have a thing for a man with some red hair… and a little bit of a scruff.

I loved Seth throughout this book, except for at one point. I was like You stupid son of a bitch! How dare you!! Man I was so upset. At first I was like, oh hello man of my dreams. Then I was like Oh damn… but after that, I was all Heyyy again. When the (lets call it an incident) happened, I had to know what was gonna happen next. Was he? Was she!? WHAT!? Yeah. One of those moments where if you don’t finish the book and find out what happened, you’ll be questioning EVERYTHING until you finish it. In effect, driving yourself nuts.

W. Ferarro definitely had a great first book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I would recommend this when you need something emotional, but not over the top. The romance part was pretty steamy and at times, I really wish I was Mae. I can’t wait to read the next novel in the Hamden series. I have Three of Spades ready and waiting for me. (Which, I will gladly delve into tonight!) Congratulations on your first book Ms. Ferarro, you’ve got a winner with this one!

[Savannah Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars- Touching, Loving, Irresistible

Geez! Where do I begin with this book? This story is 1st in the Hamden Series. I have to say, when I first received the request to review this title, I was a little thrown off by the cover. Now the cover originally was very pretty but I thought maybe this was going to be a boring read. I was determined to give it 100% of my attention. After I began reading the book, I noticed that there was cover reveal reintroducing this series. Now THAT is what I am talking about.

Mae Turney is new to town checking out some places for rent. She finds a wonderful lake house in a small town in Vermont. To Mae's delight, she finds everything that she ever wanted and wondered how she could ever be so lucky. The house is perfect and the owner is a hottie. Seth Finn has three children and the reader will come to know his story, a story that will bring you to tears!

Not only is Seth really sexy he loves his children more than life itself. It is so wonderful to read about a man and his children. For a man to love woman just the same, oh man, he has my heart.
I started reading and quickly found that this book was written very well. There is a excellent balance of showing and telling. The narrator showing you what you need to see and hear. There was just enough dialogue to be part of the conversation but not so much you get bored. The characters told you their stories. I my senses were engaged on every page. From the soft descriptions of the air, to the joyful madness that children create, the temperature outside to the romantic love making scenes. At times, these sessions made me blush. I could tell this was the work of a mature mind writing this book.

The love between a man and a woman can be so explosive. Putting ego's aside, when you love someone sometimes you have to do things you wouldn't normally do. Like admit when you have made a mistake and go after the one you have hurt. Right your wrongs and say you’re sorry. In "Three of Hearts" I found that this was a heartfelt journey of two souls meeting in divine order.

[Lynetta Halat · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The future is worth fighting for, love is worth fighting for."

What a sweet story...featuring Sweet Mae. This story tugged at my heart-strings especially when Mae and Seth face some difficulties--I was so weepy! I really enjoyed the inclusion of all the other characters and could see the author setting up some backstory and interest for future stories, which I love.

My favorite quotes--Mae fell asleep with her hand on his chest and her heart on her sleeve.

You promised, mine and only mine.

OK...My other favorite quotes features Dylan (can't wait for his story)--Dylan wasn't picky; tall, short, slim, or heavy, he liked women and women liked him.

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't put it down once I started. Seth and Mae are one of my favourite couples. Their interaction is awesome. I like that Mae was someone I could identify with, real and what can I say about Seth?Absolutely HOT and how hard he falls for Mae and so quickly, awesome!!!!! He is a true alpha male and I LOVE that!!!!!! This is definitely one I could read over and over and I plan I doing just that!!!!!!

[Ashley Hedden · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I have to say W. Ferraro is an absolute genius. I love her work and can not wait to read more. . There were many times in this novel that I thought my heart stopped. I read this book in a couple days. This is definitely a page turner. I recommend this to anyone that wants an amazing read. W. Ferraro please keep up the amazing work. I look forward to reading everything and anything you write. you have quickly hit the top of my favorite authors list.

[Book Addict Mumma · Rating 5 out of 5]

3 of Hearts
This novel got me hooked at the first chapter, I liked how it flowed. I really enjoyed reading it.The characters were well developed and interesting. The story filled me with angst,sadness and happiness. It was a sweet, touching story of love lost then found again with someone new. This is a fantastic debut / breakout novel.
I can't wait to read more of the authors work. 5 stars!

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Three of Hearts and the town of Hamden show a ton of potential for Ms. Ferraro's debut novel! I won't go into the whole description of the book since plenty of reviewers have done that before me, but I will say that I adored the premises of the book. I loved the "full figured" woman and the single father raising his babies after the heartbreaking way he lost the love of his life. I am a sucker for second chance love. I found myself totally immersed with her fun loveable, but oh so flawed, characters. Each role and personality had something that allowed me to easily connect and relate with, so much so that at the end of his or her journey, I was utterly invested in them. I smiled, laughed, cussed them out, and even became a bit teary eyed on a few occasions.

Hamden and I had a true love hate relationship. We bickered throughout the story, (yes, I argued with a town in my head...never said I was fully there. :D ) Anyway, back on topic, there were many gasp out loud moments filled with aww how fricken sweet is that and ...then there was those OMFG did that person (ahem, Seth) really just say or do that?!! I fluctuated in my opinions as my thoughts cycled through many intricate details and situations that allowed the characters to develop and grow. The town of Hamden, was very much, like a family dance. Each time one character showed or acted out in a certain manner the other characters reacted to that behavior causing a ripple effect of good and bad judgments. I loved that even though Seth and Mae were the main characters it didn't feel like that. The secondary characters commanded the story and your attention every bit as much; the roles they played an essential part from start to finish.

Mae was a handful and by that, I mean a full figured woman. LOVED this because us not so perfect girls are rarely featured in the happily ever after. It was nice to read about a female lead that wasn't perfect in her looks. Mae was real and every bit a strong female lead.

Just an FYI...Seth is a flawed hotheaded Irish man who can't seem to get the hell out of his own way and towards the end experiences some uncharacteristic behavior. I found I was really disappointed in how he handled the last 25% of the book. There were assy (stole this word from Kim because I love it so much) moments, sweet moments, and then some really assy moments with a bunch of groveling. I often found myself shaking my head at his antics and thinking damn...typical male, only thinking about what he wants. Be prepared to swoon and then be totally and utterly pissed off.

Wanna know what made me fall so in love with Hamden and its crew? Well a MAJOR reason is Seth's children. They cemented the story for me. Connor, Aiden and Megan were the backbone of Seth and Mae's romance. These three brought emotion and dimension to the table. Especially Megan, she grabbed on to my heart with her greedy little hands and guided me to the end. I couldn't help but smile when I spent any amount of time with her. She was the sweetest and most adorable little "spitfire." With that said, here is another section of the book I had a love hate relationship with. The pacing of Mae and Seth's relationship I felt at times moved way too fast. Unbelievably fast for a father who had three children of varying ages to consider. I am not one for instant love and in this instance, Seth had not dated since his wife had passed away so I was a little thrown by the sudden love they felt for each other. I personally wanted them to take things at a slower pace. However, this is where my love came in because those babies didn't allow for things to go slow. They fell for Mae and they considered her theirs. Didn't matter that she had only been around for a few weeks, everything about her captivated them. So in all honesty, when the end came, I could almost justify the fast-paced romance.

I did have a few struggles with the book. Don't let that deter you from giving Three of Hearts a chance though. If you are able to look past these to the story underneath, I think you will find an enjoyable debut read filled with rich characters. Editing is an issue, one the author is currently working on fixing. The transitions, pov changes and sentence structures on occasion left me feeling confused (according to other reviewers this has improved in Three of Spades, Dylan's book). Another thing that threw me a little was the over usage of the words he and she. Sometimes it became overwhelming in the sense the story felt more narrative than descriptive. I felt as though the author was reading the story to me instead of Mae and Seth pulling me in through their eyes.

Overall, I really enjoyed Mae and Seth. They along with their friends have captivated my attention and I will most definitely be reading the next installment. I want to personally find out what it is that has everyone in love with bad boy Dylan, because for me it's Wes, sweet quiet Wes, who made my insides tingle with his small role. I really would love it if Wendy can just finish his book like now.

Thank you, Wendy Ferraro, for the opportunity to read and review Three of Hearts in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book

You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to Hamden, Vermont...

Mae has just relocated from Boston to this small town. She wants to get away from the hustle and bustle and be part of a community. She is a caring Oncology nurse with a big heart. She is a curvier woman, used to being alone and does not have the best sense of self esteem. She ends up renting a beautiful apartment on a lake front property next to an amazing house. The woman vacating the apartment it is all too happy to introduce Mae to her brother, the owner, Seth Finn. He is hot, sexy, big as a brick wall, widowed, and father of three. It does not take long for them to quietly lust after each other and eventually get involved.

Seth wanted to come here and talk to her and talk with her, but as soon as his hands touched her talking was the last thing on his mind. His desire for Mae was like an inferno. If he didn't have her he was going to burn alive.

The more he tasted and touched the more he needed Mae. She had somehow gone from his libido to his heart.

I really liked Seth and Mae together. They both had huge hearts and really needed to have a connection with someone. They were hot and sexy(yes, lots of steamy sex scenes) and things seemed to be going well. His three kids added more excitement and personality to their lives. At this point, I have to admit that this couple seemed to be too good to be true and I was wondering what the rest of the book was going to offer. Seth is honest, sweet, loving, romantic, successful, and finally finding happiness again. Mae is such a warm, compassionate, and understanding woman. And together they have chemistry, passion, and strong feelings.

"God D, she is like nothing I've ever known. I crave her as if I can't survive without her."

"Mae is the best thing for you and the kids. I've seen you react to her, you are aware of her in every sense as she is to you, man. She is who I think Maggie would pick for you."

"...just as I respect her, I'll respect you. You are not a replacement in any way; you are your own person and what I feel for you, is yours and wholly yours."

But in any good book, there has to be drama and tension from somewhere and it definitely came. And the last part of the book, I realized just how invested I was in Mae, Seth, and the kids. I wanted to alternately smack them both in parts of the book. I was heart broken and frustrated.

God, how did he make such a giant mess of the priceless blessing he was given?Tina hit the nail on the head; he could screw up a free lunch.

I found the ending so touching that I have to admit I shed a tear. It was really a sweet story of second chance at love, the love of family and friends, and community of small town life. She really created a wonderful group of friends and family in this book. Seth has two best friends that have been with him since childhood. Dylan, is the flirty, hot, ladies man with a chip on his shoulder who does not think he will ever settle down. Wes, is the more sensitive, sweet, type of hunk. Seth's sister Robyn and her fiance' Bryan, Mae's friends Leo and Robert, and a whole town full of characters really enriched the story and made you wish you lived in Hamden.

The author uses POVS from multiple characters intermingled throughout the scenes and not clearly defined by chapters. At first, that was a little different for me, but I got used to it. I have to admit that the copy I read had some editing and grammatical issues. The author says that there has been more editing done. But it did not take away from my love for the story.

Book 2 Three of Spades is about Dylan...see next review...
Book 3 Three of Diamonds will be Wes' story...it is currently being written...

Thanks to Wendy Ferraro for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Tami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Into the Night Reviews
Web: http://intothenightbookreviews.blogsp...
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/IntoTheNig...
for great book reviews, new release updates, giveaways and more!!

3 out of 5 stars

Three of Hearts is the first of three books by Wendy Ferraro about the men of Hamden. In Three of Hearts we meet Seth Finn, handsome widower, successful construction company owner and father of three. Seth lost his wife Maggie five years earlier, shortly after the birth of their third child, Megan and since that time has not been able to face the prospect of another relationship. Caring for his children and ensuring the success of his business has been his primary focus, until he meets Mae.

Mae Turney is an oncology nurse who relocates from Boston to the town of Hamden. She moves into the apartment that adjoins the home of Seth and quickly befriends his three children Conner, Aidan and Megan as well as his housekeeper Lynne and sister Robyn.

Mae is not your 'typical' female lead - Ferraro has created a character that is intelligent, independent and also refreshingly curvaceous, rather than the svelte, catwalk model figure that usually features in romance novels - this was a nice change, although almost a little overdone with repeated references to Mae's curves and 'womanly' features.

For me the relationship between Seth and Mae moved a little too quickly, particularly given there were children to consider. They had only spoken a few times, and Seth was a little rude on at least one of those occasions, before they were all of a sudden in the middle of an intense, physical relationship. The connection between the two characters was real enough, I just thought the pace at which they moved was a little unrealistic.

There are some great supporting characters in this story - bad boy, Dylan Cross: Seth's business partner and life long friend; Robyn Finn: Seth's sister and the one responsible for bringing Mae into his life, Wes Thompson: another business associate and good friend of Seth; and Lynne O'Shanahan : Seth's fiery irish house keeper - all add some interest and help to keep Seth honest with himself and Mae - much to his annoyance!

As with any good romance novel there's an 'event' that puts Seth and Mae's relationship to the test. Without wanting to disclose the detail I was really disappointed with Seth, his behaviour in the heat of the moment was appalling - I think we were supposed to consider it part of his 'fiery' Irish blood, but for me it was extreme and difficult to recover from. I was also a little disappointed with the resolution to the 'event'- it seemed like some important things were glossed over and it just felt like the conclusion came about too quickly and easily.

Having said that, I enjoyed Three of Hearts, it was a quick read with enough substance to keep me engrossed in the story. Ferraro creates some strong characters and writes some steamy love scenes. Three of Spades is the second book in the series and I'm moving on to that next to learn more about Dylan Cross.

[Blushing Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

www.blushingreader.com


Star Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Heat Rating: be prepared for PINK cheeks!

Three of Hearts, (the first book in the new Hamden series by W. Ferraro), is a light hearted and emotional read about two very real people: Mae and Seth. Mae is looking for a home and place where she can belong. Seth is still getting over the loss of his wife, from 5 years earlier, while trying to raise three children. This is a great love story where the reader gets to fall in love along with Mae, Seth and the children, but also we get to fall in love with the other characters that live in beautiful Hamden.

Mae has just moved into Hamden and is looking for a place to live. She quickly, through the help of Seth’s sister, is able to find and afford the apartment attached to Seth’s home. Sparks fly as soon as these two characters meet and their love affair takes off. The chemistry between Seth and Mae was a bit fast (and HOT) but that doesn’t bother me, sometimes when you find the right person, you want to be with that person. Throughout the story the reader gets a real sense of who Mae is and how truly genuine she is. Mae loves Seth's kids and would do whatever it takes for her loved ones. I really liked her character and really enjoyed getting to know her throughout this book.

Seth, on the other hand, kind of pissed me off. He was loving and so reassuring that Mae was not a replacement through a lot of the book, then made and HUGE mistake when he blows up during the climax of the book. (I won’t spoil it). I really had a hard time getting back into the groove of the book after this episode and will admit I tossed my Kindle on the couch and stormed off for chocolate.

After I got over my temper tantrum about characters not doing what I want in a book, I kept reading and truly enjoyed the way everything resolved. I got a little misty towards the end; ending this story with a long sigh of satisfaction that I got the ending these characters deserved.

Overall, this was a GREAT first book by W. Ferraro. I truly enjoyed reading this book and think that this is definitely something you should put in your “to-be-read” pile. I am certainly looking forward to reading the next books in this series (I do LOVE a series about a town of characters I enjoy). This is a nice read that leaves you with a light heart and hope that their is always room for love and happily ever after in your life.

Book #2 in the Hamden series THREE OF SPADES (Dylan's) is out now
Book #3 THREE OF DIAMONDS (Wes's story) will be out soon

You can find W. Ferraro on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BooksByWFerraro

Happy Reading!

[Meagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vampires, and threesomes, and bikers, oh my! Have you ever noticed that most romance novels tend to lean towards extreme fantasy? Not that those stories aren’t fun, but sometimes I like to read something a little more grounded in reality. That’s why I enjoyed the characters in W. Ferraro’s book, Three of Hearts. It was nice to read about characters that you could see yourself being friends with. Not that I wouldn’t enjoy being friends with a rockstar or millionaire, I just think becoming friends with a nurse or a contractor might be a little more realistic.
Speaking of friends I really enjoyed the relationship between Seth and his group. We don’t always get to see what the hero of the story is thinking, but the way Ferraro switches points of view we not only get to see what Seth is thinking, but what his friends think of his relationship, as well as his screw-ups. Plus, getting to know Dylan and Wes only made me more interested to hear their story as the Hamden Series continues.
The emphasis put on family in the novel was really sweet. Seth is a widow with three kids.That’s why it was great to see so much of the story revolve around Mae and how she connected with the children. Many times family is glossed over in lieu of romance, but Ferraro did a great job of incorporating them both in her story. Also by using the bond Mae built with the children we see how deeply she not only felt for Seth, but for the family as a whole.
Even though the story showcases the Finn family, that doesn’t mean there wasn’t plenty of “bow chicka wow wow”. Seth and Mae definitely had a thing for any location with water, which was probably good since things got hot! I’ve read a few novels that showcase more realistic characters and they all were a little lacking in heat. Not Ms. Ferraro’s novel. She added plenty of spice. My only complaint would be that at times the action felt a little stilted. And for a writer who does realistic characters so well I would just like to point out no one goes from a completed blow job straight to sex without a little breather, just sayin’. I was also surprised at the pace Seth and Mae took their relationship. It kind of went from “Hey, I’m your new landlord” to “Bend over baby” in a short amount of time. But it was a small detail I got over quickly.
Three of Hearts was a quick enjoyable read. It’s the first in Ferraro’s Hamden Series.


For more amazing reviews check out Love Between the Sheets at http://www.readlovelust.com/

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh!! Em!!! Gee!!! I just finished reading Three of Hearts by W. Ferraro and am still emotionally raw from all of the emotions this book tore from my soul!!! This is a 5 star... MUST read book!!!

Three of Hearts is a first in a series of books by W. Ferraro. This is a story of how a man lost his one true love to an excruciating battle of cancer and left him to raise their three children. Seth Finn is a successful construction company owner that has closed his heart off from life.... Especially to women! He buried his heart when he buried his wife. When his sister decides to move out of the apartment he built by his home and decides Mae Turney should be the new tenant, Seth begins to feel the ice around his heart melt and that scares him more than anything.

Mae is a cancer center nurse and is just wanting to work in a small town without the hustle and bustle of the city. She yearns for a laid back lifestyle where she can plant roots and possibly find where she belongs. When Mae goes to view an apartment, she has no idea what is about to cross her path.... A sexy, orally talented, ***wiggle eyebrows here** father of 3 that she feels an instant Zing with from the moment their eyes lock onto each other.

The attraction between Mae and Seth hooked me in from the very beginning! I found myself talking to my iPad (as if it could hear me) and begging for Seth to finally listen to his heart, I also found myself blushing awkwardly at the sex scenes and Seth's amazing oral talents!! I loved the relationships in Three of Hearts. I loved the friendships the adult characters had with each other, and the Finn children absolutely stole my heart. One ending scene... I am not going to say which one because it will give away too big of a spoiler.... Had me bawling like a baby. The touching, heartbreaking, and soul shattering story behind this book had me on an emotional roller coaster... A ride I would gladly ride over and over!!!

This book deserves the 5 star rating I am giving it, plus more! W. Ferraro does an amazing job at building rapport between her readers and her characters. Each one has a story behind them that just makes you want to keep reading to see what will happen next! When I say I devoured both books in this series... I literally mean it. Each book took me one day!! I couldn't put it down because I HAD to know will Seth and Mae continue on their stubborn, I don't need anyone path... Or would they give in to their hearts and finally find their ONE!!

[Peggy Scharnowske · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was just what I was looking for after recovering from quite the book hangover. I had one-clicked this book awhile back, I one-click a lot though, and decided it was time to catch up on books I've bought already!! I chose to read this book now based on the blurb. I needed a good read about an adult couple, children added to the mix made it even more appealing to me. Three of Hearts did not disappoint.

Mia has a career in nursing, taking a job out of the big city life of Boston. She finds the perfect apartment to rent in a small town of Hamden in the home of a very attractive father of 3. Mae is very likeable from the get go. She's sweet, honest and has a heart of gold! She's not your average female in some of these contemporary romance novels. She's real, mature, and curvy in all the right places! No broken past, no inner demons to deal with. Seth is a widow (of 5 years) and is raising three children on his own. Along with the help of his sister (whom I love also), and long time family friend / housekeeper. His character is very real too, hard-working, caring and protective.

They're attracted to each other from the beginning, but Seth doesn't believe he will ever love or marry again after losing the love of his life and mother of his children. So things are a little rocky for the two of them at first. But then, boom. Seth lays how he's feeling out there, and she's more than willing to open up to him as well. Mae develops a relationship with Seth's children, family and his close friends. The respect Mae shows throughout for Seth's deceased wife is heartwarming. You get to learn some things about each of the side characters in the story too, which I liked.

Eventually Seth messes up, and he messes up bad. Grrrr. I was shocked at his behavior over this issue, and I wanted to smack the freaking crap out of him. I only wish Mae would have. I wish she would have stuck up for herself a little more through that whole issue, period. Did I feel for his reaction a little though, yes. I didn't like how he chose to handle it. Soon enough, I liked him again. I think he learned from his mistake and righted his wrongs in the right way. Loved the ending!

I've already bought Three of Spades, and will begin today!! I'm so looking forward to Dylan's story, as well as Wes's in Three of Diamond's!!! I'm sure we'll get a side of Seth and Mae in those books as well, I hope so anyway.

[Lydia's Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Mae and Seth's story in Three of Hearts, is sweet and refreshingly realistic. This to me, made the characters easier to relate to and understand.
Here we see how Mae, an oncology nurse, moves to Hamden to start her new job. There, she moves into an apartment that's attached to Seth's house.

Seth, is a hot and single father who runs a successful construction company along with his best friend, Dylan. His wife had unfortunately passed away, so he was left to care for his three children: Conner, Aidan, and sweet and hilarious, Megan. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Megan!!!!!!! LOVED HER! Seeing how she was with Mae and Seth, warmed my heart. She was just too cute!

Mae and Seth's relationship went from 0 to 60, in the sense that even though they were both heavily attracted to each other from the start, they hadn't mentioned anything, but once they did.... BAM! Fireworks. But don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about it, in fact, I actually really liked that!

"I wish we were alone right now and I could show you how sexy I think you are."

Yep. There were some pretty hot scenes here. Seth always took care of his Mae. *wink* They were always careful around the kids, though -- something I also really liked. They did fun things as a family which I think helped the kids really open up to Mae and love her.

Overall, the drama and problems in this book were very realistic and ones any family in Seth and Mae's situation could have. There was one specific moment in the book were Seth really pissed me off. I feel like he not only overreacted, but took it to a whole other level. Seth better count his lucky stars! He definitely had the most amazing friends in the world. If it wasn't for Dylan and Wes, Seth probably wouldn't have gotten his happy ending.

"Thank you for giving a damn fool like me another chance at forever."

The only downer for me, was that half way through, I feel like the story got a tad slow. It wasn't a big deal or anything because overall, I really enjoyed Three of Hearts and I recommend you read it . The characters were wonderful and I enjoyed reading about them. I'm very much looking forward to Three of Spades, which is Dylan's book and Three of Diamonds, which is Wes' book.

"I love you Mae, today and always."

[Sarah's Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given Three of Hearts by the author for my review. While I will admit I had a somewhat hard time getting into this (thanks to the Kellan Kyle craziness). I did however finish and was SO happy I did. This was such a feel good, heart warming read.



Mae is an oncology nurse who just moved to Hamden, Vermont where she rents an apartment from Seth.  A father of three, owner of a construction company and hot. They have an instant connection and things get hot right from the get go.



I really liked Mae. She was more normal and real than most people in books. She was a fuller woman or "pleasantly plump" as she says and lives a normal life. Also, she is my kind of girl...she drives a Camaro! Seth's kids are so freaking cute, I fell in love with them right away. Seth...hmm, well here is what gets me. I really do like him but at one point in the book her had an outburst. Where yes, he had a legit reason to be upset, its just how he handle it and where he handled it that threw me off the Seth fan bus.



While I will say this wasn't one of my favorite books, I will say it was well written maybe at times a little scripted (yes sounds weird but can't think of the right word). The characters are extremely like-able except Seth at one point but I found myself really like Mae and Dylan. The next installment to this is Dylan's story, I am looking forward to that one. I do recommend this book for anyone that likes a nice warm story with a some hotness in there as well.



Just a warning. I didn't find Seth to be that attractive.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Seth and Mae’s story! Two real people struggling with real-life situations. A 32 year old Oncology nurse, Mae Turney, moves from Boston to Hamden, VT in search of a much simpler life and to become part of a community. A widower, Seth Finn, is a loving Dad who spends as much time as he can with his three children. He is active in their lives and you immediately fall in love with their relationship and how much he interacts with each of them.

Seth’s wife, Maggie, had died of Cancer. He wasn’t looking for love, but I believe everything happens for a reason and it was fate that brought Mae to rent the apartment attached to his home (or was it Maggie’s intervention?). They had an instant attraction to each other and their chemistry was emotional and HOT!

"God D, she is like nothing I've ever known. I crave her as if I can't survive without her."

Mae has a big heart and is just what Seth and his three children needed. She loves Conner, Aidan, and Megan and didn’t push to replace their mother but to embrace their own relationship. I found the scene at the cemetery to be very emotional and a true testament to Mae’s ability to truly love Seth’s children as if they were her own. “No one will ever replace you and I would never dishonor your memory by trying. I would really like to join your family, and make them my own.” “Just then, the few clouds that were left in the sky parted and the glorious sun shined down.”

I know that Seth had been out of the relationship scene for a long time, but I was still surprised and frustrated with his behavior at the bar. For him to fly off the handle without getting all the answers or even waiting to address it with Mae in private was unexpected. For someone who seemed to love so strongly with everything in him, I was upset that he would treat Mae with such contempt. I think Mae was also surprised and automatically took the blame, for fear that she would make the situation more volatile if she addressed the actual facts of what happened.

Seth knows all too well that life is precious and tragedy can happened when you least expect it. With the drama that happened at the bar and the events that followed, if you are lucky enough to fall in love a second time, you can’t be that careless with such a precious gift.

[Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review also published on My Book Addiction

Three of Hearts is the first book in the Hamden series by W. Ferraro. This is a cute, light read suitable for any fan of the romance genre. The storyline itself was adorable, and I was happy to discover that Ferraro created characters that were more realistic and flawed, instead of a cast of characters chiseled from Italian marble into the perfect god or godess.

In Three of Hearts we are introduced to Mae Turney, an Oncology nurse who has just moved to the town of Hamden after residing in Boston for several years. She wants to get away from the city and find a place she really feels at home, without having to share an apartment with anyone else. We start this story with Mae going to a viewing of an apartment that is for rent in Hamden, and it just so happens to be adjoined to the house of Seth Finn, a very swoon-worthy man who lost his wife several years prior. He is the co-owner of S&D Construction, along with his longtime friend and business partner, Dylan Cross, and spends his time working and caring for his three children. After losing his wife to cancer he has buried the thought of getting seriously involved with a woman again… until he meets Mae.

I am a huge supporter of Indie authors and always cut them slack when reading a book. That said, there are a few things I didn’t care for in this first installment that I must point out for my review to be honest and fair. I didn’t care for the relationship development between Mae and Seth, or even Mae and Seth’s family. In my opinion, things moved a bit too quickly; something that would never happen in reality. I was also put off by the grammatical errors throughout the book. While I generally feel that what is being said is more important than occasional grammatical errors, the excessive lack of punctuation and capitalization took away from my overall reading experience.

I will say that by the end, I was definitely feeling a connection with the characters and would recommend Three of Hearts to anyone that loves the romance genre.

[Nanette Bradford · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I was given this lovely book for review and was totally blown away by the story it told. The promise of love, the searing heartache that brought two people together, and a family made whole.
It had everything I could of wanted in a story and a great ending.

I fell in love with Mae and what I loved most about her was that she was a real woman. She wasn't your A typical thin girl who knew how beautiful she was and threw herself at every guy. She was in fact a curvy girl with beauty inside and out and you couldn't help but fall In love with her personality. Yes, Mae had her faults too. She was dead set on thinking she was always goi g to be alone because she grew up that way. Moving from place to place following g her mother and father because that's what was expected of a child in a military family. Mae never knew true friendship till she moved to Hamden. That's when her life changed for the better. She made friends, found a great apartment that just happened to be owned by a handsome man and his 3 children.

Seth wasn't your typical guy either. He was a tall 6'4 man with a large frame and sparkling green eyes that Made Mae's stomach flip the first time she laid eyes on him. Seth's story was a tragic one. Losing his wife and raising his children on his own was hard but head to make it a great life for hi and his kids. Maggie was the love of his life and losing her broke him in two. Seth never thought he'd find love again I till he saw Mae and his breath was taken away.

I loved their story So much They became close, quickly realizing that they made each other happy in a way they never knew they could.. Oh I was pissed at some parts when Seth would go all Neanderthal and went off on Mae. He was a typical hot headed Irishman that was too pigheaded to pull his head out of his butt and I just wanted to slap him silly and scream what a freaking jerk he is. Once you read this story you'll understand though. Oh and love parts. Oh my wow. Pretty hot and steamy stuff there. This is definitely not a book for someone under 18 but if you love a hot sexy love story you'll love Three of Hearts.