Hearts at Play

The Bradens at Weston, CO #6

by Melissa Foster

Brianna Heart has a six-year old daughter and a twelve-year plan to keep her life as simple as possible until Layla turns eighteen. That means swearing off relationships and the drama that goes along with them, working two jobs, and being the best damn mother she can be.

The last thing Capital Series Grand Prix racer Hugh Braden wants after dating media-hungry leggy models and money-hungry fan girls is a blind date. But how could he turn down a favor to one of his best friends? Hugh expected the date to go poorly, but he didn’t expect to be intensely attracted to the beautiful brown-eyed bartender who completely blows him off—and steals his every thought thereafter.

When Brianna’s perfectly orchestrated life turns upside down, Hugh is there to help, softening the turmoil, and maybe even rescuing her heart from the lonely place where it has been hiding. Can a man who doesn’t believe in fate and a woman who doesn’t believe in true love find happiness in each other’s arms forever?

HEARTS AT PLAY is a GOLD MEDAL WINNER in the Readers' Favorite Awards - Romance Sizzle Category

2014 NOTABLE ROMANCE BOOK, Shelf Unbound Magazine

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Family, Audiobook, Adult, Fiction

300 pages, Paperback

First published January 7, 2014

About the author

NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, and USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR

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Melissa Foster is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than 100 novels. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic, always family oriented, and feature fiercely loyal heroes, smart, sassy heroines, and complex relatable issues.

Melissa also writes sweet romance under the pen name, Addison Cole here: https://addisoncole.com

Melissa loves to hear from readers! Feel free to send her an email or chat with her on social media.

Melissa welcomes the opportunity to chat with book clubs and other reading groups.

"What sets Melissa Foster apart are her compelling characters who you care about... desperately...I dare you to read the first chapter and not be hooked." International bestseller, M.J. Rose

"Melissa Foster is a wonderful connector of readers and books, a friend of authors, and a tireless advocate for women. She is the real deal"--Author Jennie Shortridge

Reviews

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/

I liked this one quite a bit. I have slowly been working my way through Melissa Foster’s backlist and have recently been enjoying getting to know each of the Braden siblings. This time around we get Hugh Braden’s story. Each of these books works well on their own but fans of the series will enjoy seeing favorite characters make an appearance.

Brianna is a single mother with a 6-year-old daughter. She’s too busy trying to be the best mom she can while trying to make ends meet to even think about dating. Plus she has a plan to wait another 12 years for her daughter to turn 18 before looking for a relationship. Hugh doesn’t expect to be taken with the waitress working at the bar he visits but he is. He is a racecar driver and most of the women he dates seem to be more interested in his fame and status. Brianna doesn’t even know who he is so it is a different experience and one they both want to explore. I liked Brianna and Hugh and thought that they worked well together. I thought that they had a lot of chemistry with each other. I also really liked how they were both very focused on making sure that Brianna’s daughter would not be hurt by their relationship.

B.J. Harrison did a great job with the narration once again. I listened to this audiobook at 1.4X speed which worked really well for me. I thought that he did a great job with both the male and female voices and was able to bring a lot of emotion into the story. I believe that his narration added to my overall enjoyment of this story.

I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a well-done contemporary romance filled with great characters and a lot of emotion. I look forward to reading more of Melissa Foster’s work soon.

I received a copy of this audiobook from the author/publicist.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hugh Braden is used to living life in the fast lane. A handsome, well-known grand prix driver, Hugh’s used to having gorgeous women chase after him. What he doesn’t expect is for the tables to turn and for him to do the chasing. While out on a blind date, a date that he didn’t want to go on in the first place, a beautiful bartender catches his eye. However, she seems to be going out of her way to avoid him.

Brianna Heart is a single mom to six year old, Layla. Determined to be the best mom she can be, Brianna vows not to get involved with anyone until Layla turns eighteen. With the memories of her father leaving when she was a little girl, Brianna is steadfast on making Layla’s childhood a happy one … even if that means sacrificing her happiness to achieve it. But when Hugh continues showing up at Old Town Tavern, he makes it hard for her to avoid him and keep to her original plan. Will Brianna realize that she can find love with another without sacrificing her daughter’s happiness? And will Hugh slow down long enough to see if Brianna is the one worth racing to the finish line for?

Hearts at Play is the ninth book in the Love in Bloom series. What makes this book stand out from the others in the series is that the heroine is a single mother. I like how the author portrayed her as a caring, strong, hard-working woman, but at the same time showing that she’s human and has her insecurities too. I also loved Hugh’s character. Who wouldn’t love a hot racecar driver who is just as compassionate as he is sexy? Another amazing, must read book by Melissa Foster!

[Ptiteaurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nous voici à la fin de la saga Les Braden de Westown et on termine cette saga avec une belle romance qui saura faire chavirer nos coeurs.

Hugh Braden est un personnage qui vit à 1000 à l'heure. De par son métier, il fonce tête baissée et ce pilote est charmant, beau et célèbre. Il est habitué à ce que les femmes se jettent dans ses bras et donc à être poursuivi. Cette fois-ci, c'est lui le chasseur et elle sera sa proie. Sa rencontre avec Brianna sera fera de manière inopinée mais sera marquante. Elle va se méfier de lui à juste titre au vu de sa réputation mais il saura se faire une place de choix dans sa vie. Il saura aidé de la meilleure amie de Bree et il va donc devoir relever un nouveau défi. La célébrité a bien des avantages mais ici, il sera face à des obstacles de par son métier.

Brianna Heart est la mère célibataire de Layla, six ans. C'est une guerrière qui a érigé des barrières pour se protéger, elle et sa fille. Elle mettra tout en oeuvre pour le bonheur de Layla et ce n'est pas ce pilote qui va la détourner de son chemin. Elle va dresser des barrières et tenter de résister à son charme. Le bonheur de sa fille est primordiale et le sien pourra attendre ses 18 ans. Ce qu'il lui propose est bien trop beau pour être vrai et elle ne veut pas tomber dans ses filets ou autre une femme qui passe dans sa vie. Il est vrai que de prime abord il ne semble pas stable et digne de confiance mais elle verra bien vite qu'il a le sens de la famille. Les Braden sont soudés et il pourrait donc être digne de confiance. Mais le risque en vaut il la chandelle?

Bref, une conclusion parfaite pour une série de romances contemporaines qui aura su aborder des thèmes divers, variés mais aussi forts en émotions. De beaux messages sont véhiculés et nous font rêver.

[Carvanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook: Narrator - B.J. Harrison

Another great narration by Mr. Harrison. He’s become the voice of the Love in Bloom series for me and I can’t imagine listening to any other narrator at this time. Mr. Harrison knows how to bring a depth of emotion into the story that isn’t there in the written words and that’s exactly what I’m looking for in an audiobook.

I loved this story with a single mother who didn’t plan on falling in love until after her daughter was a young adult. Watching her do just that was wonderful and I loved that despite her struggles, she was always mature and open about what she wanted and expected. The fact that Hugh was just as much in agreement with her made me fall in love with him. He was so willing to yield to her needs I just loved him.

This is another beautiful Braden story filled with respect, love, loyalty and family.

Dual POV
Safe no ow/om drama; h not a virgin; H a bit racy but not really made out to be a manwhore
Triggers no apparent triggers

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melissa Foster and B.J. Harrison have done it again. Hugh Braden has become my 2nd book boyfriend. Hugh meets and falls in love with single mom Brianna Heart. He instantly wants to protect her and her daughter and make their lives a little easier. Brianna has a 12 year plan which means she plans to stay single for 12 years till her daughter Layla turns 18. She does not want to risk men coming in and out of their lives confusing Layla. Brianna winds up falling for Hugh and Layla calls him Prince Hugh as she sees him as her moms prince charming.

B.J. .Harrison is the narrator and he does a great job in this story. He really makes you feel apart of the story. He does a great job going from adult characters to Layla who is 6. The way B.J tells the story makes you feel like you are right there in the middle of everything. Melissa Foster has done well in having him narrate her books.

[Valérie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Et voilà, c’est fini. Toute la fratrie Braden a trouvé chaussure à son pied, Hugh étant le dernier.

[Emma Star Crossed Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free for a Blog Tour in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Throughout the series Hugh has been the one that lives life in the fast lane. Always dropping in and out of the family events, he loved his family but he needed his next thrill. Until Sea of Love,when we began to see a different side to him. He wanted to spend more time with Dane. Now a few months on and Hugh meets Brianna. 

Brianna or Bree and little Layla found a way into my heart. I loved them from the very first pages. Bree is a kind caring and protective mother to little Layla everything she does is for that girl. I mean she hasn't even looked at a man in 6 years, yes SIX years! She has so many walls around her heart I thought Hugh was never going to be able to break them down. 

Hugh is like the rest of his family loyal, kind, caring and loving. He loves living life in the fast lane but watching all his siblings settle down he realises he's a bit lonely. He wants that special someone in his life. 

Kat and Mack were very good friends to Bree. I loved how straight talking no nonsense Kat was. She gave it to Bree like it was.

I love how Treat has a special relationship with each of his siblings. He cares about all of them with his big damn heart. Helping each of them exactly when they need it.

The end of this book was so sweet. I had little happy tears. It was the perfect ending to this series.

I'm so sad this is the last Braden's book. The whole family has stolen my heart.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed the little snippets of Hugh over the last couple of books in this series, how the author has been setting his personality change up for this book. The character of Hugh has always been referred to as the fast and loose risk taking sibling. Ms. Foster has shown us that he's been ready to change for a while with his little side conversations with various siblings in their stories. That made his treatment of Bree and his disgust with his blind date much easier for me to accept as a reader.

Of course, Hugh is a Braden. So that means that, no matter his reputation, I expected him to be a gentleman. And was he ever. Without getting into spoilers here, there is a bit more suspension of disbelief in this story than in any of the others when it comes to the swiftness of the love. But that's okay, as usual I'm fine with that in a novel. As much as the insta-love was faster than ever, the sex took a bit longer in this one. And that's where Hugh's gentlemanly powers came into play.

As for our heroine, Bree was as protective as I would expect a single mother to be. Maybe even a bit too much at times, but being a mom myself I could understand her reservations.

All in all, this book was a fantastic end to the Braden part of this series and I cannot wait to dive further into the Remington branch of the tree.

[Elizabeth Towns · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been following the The Bradens series by Melissa Foster, and was kinda excited for this one. I’m a divorced mom with two kids, and I’ve pretty much focused on making a life for them, exclusively, since the divorce. When I read Brianna and Hughes story was jut the kind of romantic tale I needed to read!

Hugh and Bree make a great love connection; he is enthralled with her from the very first time he lays eyes on her at the restaurant where she waitresses. Even though she doesn’t wait on the edgy race car driver, turning his table over to another waitress, Hugh Braden is still intrigued.

Brianna is determined to make a stable, protected life for her baby girl, and that does not involve any romantic ventures. So far she’s been successful. Until Hugh Braden crashes all of that resolve, and cares for her daughter too.

I really like Hugh Braden, although from the glimpses of him in the books prior, I thought of him as a lady’s man. In Hearts at Play, we find out Hugh’s tough exterior can be broached, and in a big way. He’s huge on sexy and on caring. The youngest Braden man wraps this series up with a bang.

I received this book in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are completely my own.

If you are a fan of fairy tales and happily ever afters, this is your book. Such a great ending for the last book of the Braden clan. Hugh is the fast paced, Grand Prix racer that we’ve seen glimpses of in the last few books. He’s always winning awards and jet-setting, with some beautiful girl on his arm, but is there more to Hugh now that his siblings are settling down?

Huge meets Brianna at her place of employment and he is enamored with her, but are the feelings returned? I mean really, he’s a hot hunk of man that resembles Patrick Dempsey. Of course she’s attracted, but she’s got a twelve year plan. Can Hugh break through and find love? You will definitely want to read this HOT book to find out. Sweet and sexy – that describes the book and Hugh.

This is a happy tears book. Get lost in romance, fairy tales, and a sexy love story. By the end of the book I was bawling like a baby and had a huge smile on my face.

[Stories & Verse · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The deeper he thrust his tongue, the more it aroused her. She felt so safe in his arms, like he wouldn't ever let anything hurt her. When they pulled apart, she ached for his return."


I came across this title through a BookBub recommendation.

At first I thought I would not be able to connect with or relate with the characters because I normally do not read single parent romances.

However, there were so many 5 star reviews, then there was the book cover, something about the book cover seduced me, so I decided to read the Amazon sample.

I planned to read one chapter per day of the 6 chapter sample but within one hour I finished the sample and pressed buy now with 1 click.

From the start you know that Bree and Hugh should be together but the romance is slow moving; Hugh asks Bree if he can kiss her instead of trusting his instincts that she wants him.

It was written in third person switching seamlessly from the thoughts of Bree to the thoughts of Hugh, and you get to know their most intricate musings.

Overall, the story has a true to life fairy-tale quality.

[C.M. Albert · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, you cannot go wrong with a Melissa Foster romance novel. Period. I hereby declare her the new Queen of Romance. Seriously. For those of you who have already read the books preceding this, you know why. She has built a reputation for delivering strong and lovable characters, with great plots centering around families, and then she throws in there some SERIOUS heat...and that creates the perfect love story. She does not disappoint with book six. While other authors seem to be too formulaic or peter out after the first few books in a series, Foster is original and creative with each character and their story, and makes you fall in love right along with them. I thought I'd had my favorite Braden brother locked in until Hearts at Play. Hugh is officially my new favorite! I won't go into plot, since you can get that from the description. Just be warned that Hugh sets the bar high in the romance department! Another homerun in this series. Keep 'em coming!

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kobo+ Contemporary Romance Series Challenge 2024. Tropes: Family/Friends, Celebrity & Single mom/child,
MC's h Bree (Briana) & 6 yr old daughter Layla, gave up her dreams of Photography to raise her daughter. Works two jobs, at a bar in the evening and as an assistant for a famous photographer Claude. Best Friend Kat. H Hugh Braden 31, celebrity race car driver, youngest of 6 siblings: Treat,39(Max), Dane,37 (Lacy), Rex 35 (Jade), Savannah 34(Jack, 37), Josh32 ( Riley). father Horse Rancher, Hal Braden, 65. Just guessing everyone's age except, Treat,Savannah & Hugh.
******************************************************************************

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 – 4 Stars

Hearts at Play is the sixth book in The Bradens series (Love in Bloom Book #9) by Melissa Foster. The Love in Bloom series proved to be a heartwarming journey through love, family, and personal growth. Spanning multiple interconnected series/stories, it offers a wonderful blend of romance, humor, and emotional depth that kept me reading the whole way through.
Ms. Foster crafted fully developed, relatable, and multidimensional characters who added an extra element of emotion and interest to my overall reading experience. The heroes are fiercely loyal and endearing, while the heroines are smart, empowered, and refreshingly ‘real’. Each character feels like someone you could know in real life, making their struggles and triumphs, high and lows, all the more impactful.
The stories have a perfect balance of steamy romance mixed with heartfelt moments. But that doesn’t mean that Ms. Foster shies away from exploring deeper themes like forgiveness, self-discovery, and the complexities of relationships – adding dynamic layers to the storyline/s. But, despite the emotional depth, the series still maintains more of a lighthearted charm, sprinkled with humor and tender family connections.
While each novel can be read as a standalone, there is an interconnectedness with the recurring characters and overlapping storylines - which help create a sense of community that feels warm and inviting. It’s like being welcomed into a big, loving family where everyone has a worthwhile story to tell.
‘Within the Love in Bloom big-family romance collection you'll find fiercely loyal heroes and smart, empowered women on their search for true love. They're flawed, funny, and easy to relate to. Characters from each series appear in future Love in Bloom books…’
If you are a fan of contemporary romance or simply looking for a feel-good series to escape into, this series is a worthwhile binge read…
Love in Bloom is made up of the following series:
- Snow Sisters
- The Bradens (Weston, CO)
- The Remingtons
- The Bradens (Trusty, CO)
- The Bradens Novellas Collection
- The Bradens (Peaceful Harbor, MD)
- Seaside Summers
- Bayside Summers
- The Ryders
- The Steeles at Silver Island
- The Silvers at Silver Island
- Wild Boys After Dark
- Bad Boys After Dark
- The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Peaceful Harbor
- The Bradens & Montgomerys, Pleasant Hill – Oak Falls
- The Bradens at Ridgeport
- The Wickeds: Dark Knights at Bayside
- The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch
- Romantic Comedy Series Collection
- Sugar Lake
- Harmony Pointe
- Harborside Nights
- Nice Girls After Dark
- The Steeles
- The Stones
- Blazing Summer
- The Brays

Happy Reading…

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brianna Hart is a single mom to six-year old Layla with a hectic but organized life. She works two jobs - bartender and photography assistant, and has put any kind of romance on the back burner until Layla turns eighteen. That’s her 12 year plan. Of course fate has other things in store for Brianna’s best laid plans.

Enter Capital Series Grand Prix racer and heart throb Hugh Braden, the youngest of the Weston Braden clan. He meets Brianna when he shows up for a disastrous blind date as a favor to a friend and is immediately captivated by Brianna, the bartender who gives his drink order to someone else to deliver. That’s a first for Hugh and that endears her to him in a new way. Used to women falling at his feet for their own personal reasons, Brianna is a breath of Spring. Although not looking for love, he has been taking stock of his party style life, wanting more. Watching his siblings fall in love makes Hugh realize he wants that connection that’s missing in his life.

Brianna is so busy being the best mom she can be and working practically non-stop, it’s easy to see how she almost fails to recognize her loneliness.

Hugh takes the time to get to know Brianna, understanding that she can’t introduce him to Layla, until they meet quite by accident. I loved Hugh’s quiet pursuit of Brianna and the way he cared to learn about Layla. He was swoon worthy on so many levels, romancing both mother and daughter, understanding her fears and insecurities especially dating a celebrity who has woman fawning all over him. He learned that just because you can doesn’t mean you should and respected Brianna’s wishes not to overly spoil Layla, not wanting her to expect things or lording her good fortune over her friends. Brianna does a great job of teaching Layla what’s important in life and Hugh does a wonderful job of convincing her it’s okay to be spoiled on occasion.

As always the Braden family is there to lend support, whether an ear or helping hand. I love this family so much!

B.J. Harrison is a wonderful narrator, easily switching up the voices of the characters, making sure you feel their emotions without though, adding so much to the already great story.

If you love single parent, new love romances, Hearts at Play is definitely for you!

[Katie Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hearts at Play is the long awaited story of the youngest Braden sibling, Hugh, as he falls in love with a single mother and her daughter. During the courtship stories of his brothers and sister, Hugh has been an egocentric, immature playboy, living his life as a famous race car driver to the fullest. Although he was always charming, he had no substance, especially when compared to his ultra responsible and mature family members. Thankfully, by the time he meets Brianna, he has decided that he is ready to settle down and find something with real meaning in his life. Watching Brianna shoot down all his advances in the beginning is priceless.

Brianna is his polar opposite. Although she had an oops moment when she became pregnant right after college, she is a hardworking, dedicated mother with no room in her life for anything but her daughter. She has been betrayed deeply by two men in her past, her father and her daughter's father, so she runs from any sign of male attraction. How these two could fall in love seems inconceivable, but they are actually the perfect compliment to each other. Brianna doesn't make it easy for Hugh to win her affections, but he applies his seduction skills with the same precision he uses on the racetrack. As with all of Love in Bloom books, Hearts at Play can be read as a standalone, but I always love revisiting couple from the previous books. I am sad to say goodbye to the Braden siblings, but I have a feeling that I will like the next family, the Remingtons, just as much.

B.J. Harrison narrates most of the Love in Bloom series, and he is incredibly talented. Although he doesn't overly differentiate between male and female characters, he uses subtle changes in tone and pitch to make it clear which character is speaking. His performance is flawless, and his delivery of the steamy scenes makes them even more passionate (not that you can improve on a Melissa Foster love scene!). I look forward to many future narrations by Harrison.

I received a copy of this audiobook at my request in exchange for this honest review.

[Nate Brightman · Rating 5 out of 5]

IMHO this is the best book in the Bradens at Weston Co. series. Hugh the youngest of the Bradens had always been a self-absorbed, self-indulgent narcissist while he built his career as a champion Grand Prix driver. Blessed with great looks along with his fame, women's company came easy to him. Now in his early thirties he's watched each of his 5 older siblings find true love and happiness and suddenly the appeal of hooking up was no longer enough for him and Hugh wants what his siblings have. He wants to know the enduring love his father holds for his late mother. Enter Brianna Heart, single mom/bartender/photographer's assistant and her daughter Layla. Even though Hugh is at the bar Bree is working at for a blind date he is immediately smitten with the lovely Brianna. And much to her dismay despite her resolution to stay away from men for another twelve years until Layla is 18 Brianna is overwhelmed by her attraction to Hugh even though she has no idea who he is. After one coffee date Hugh knows Brianna is the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with. Now all he has to do is convince her of that. Bree is the product of a broken home where her father abandoned her and her mother when she was very young. Bree herself got pregnant with Layla during a weekend fling after college graduation and the father wanted nothing to do with her and his unborn child. So she's spent the past six years working dead end jobs to support herself and her daughter and sworn off men. Plus Hugh has a history as a player. So Hugh has his work cut out for him winning Bree over and he'll stop at nothing to accomplish his goal including enlisting his family, Brianna's mom and her friends Kat and Mack for the cause. This is just a great, heartwarming story full of love, laughs and a few tears of both the sad and happy variety.

[Charlotte Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

In all the books in this series Hugh has been portrayed as a fast and hard man. Hearts at Play show how he is a romantic, sexy (as if there was any doubt, he is a Braden), compassionate, and incredible man. I always thought Treat, from Book 4 Lovers at Heart, was my crush, but very quickly into Hearts at Play Hugh took over that spot. He won me over but not only dating and wooing Brianna, but he wooed Layla too. He included her in their outings, thought about her when he was making plans with Brianna, and just made her feel like she was truly a princess. The thoughtfulness and care he took with Brianna and all her insecurities made him the most amazing man I have ever read about.

Brianna is the type of mom everyone needs. Her every thought was concerning Layla and how her actions would affect her. I had tears in my eyes many times while reading her thoughts on Layla and her concerns. Watching her struggle with her feelings towards Hugh and seeing her overcome her fears showed how strong of a woman and mother she truly is. Kat, her best friend, and her mother, Jean, had to shake her a few times and get her to open her eyes to how amazing Hugh is, but that is what best friends and mother’s are for, right?!

I cannot end this review without mentioning the bombshell that Max and Treat dropped at the end of the book. I LOVE IT!

I am sure I have said this in all my other reviews for this series, but OH MY…. This is my favorite book so far. I cannot wait to see what the rest of this series will bring me. Will a Remington replace Hugh as my crush? If you have not checked out this series you are seriously missing out on some HOTNESS. This book, as with the others, can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend you check out the entire series.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hearts at Play
Love in Bloom: The Bradens, Book 6
By: Melissa Foster
Narrated by: B.J. Harrison
Series: The Bradens, Book 6, Love in Bloom, Book 9

Race car drivers, aren't they all playboys? Hugh used to be, but now he is looking for the kind of connection his cousins and brothers have. When he meets Brianna in a restaurant, he things he may have found his match. But is she interested? Brianna is a single mom, just trying to get by. She does not date and her main focus is her adorable daughter Layla. Now being pursued by Hugh is quite an experience. This man does not take no for an answer, and does she not want to take the chance? I love the Bradens! Each one is so different, but their hearts all contain that swooniness I love. Hugh is so attentive and loving, and the way he takes to Layla is heart melting. Brianna is not as easy. Hesitant, and understandably so, there were times I wanted to just push her a little! And stealing the show is Layla. She is the cutest, most gracious child, and I loved her! And it's always fun seeing the family, like Savannah and Jack. It's coming home. Melissa Foster always makes my heart full.

BJ Harrison continues his narration of the series, and he is the voice of the Bradens. I enjoy his voices and his consistency between books is remarkable. I find him a calming listen, and know I will be in a good mood when I am finished with his performance.

[Missy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hearts at Play by Melissa Foster is book 6 of The Bradens series. It is the story of Hugh and Brianna. Hugh is one of the 5 hunky Braden brothers and is a race car driver. He has a real need for speed and is a thrill seeker. Hugh was a lady’s man but as all his siblings have started to settle down he is wondering if there isn’t more to life. Brianna is a single mother of almost 6 year old Layla. She has a good life but it is hard making ends meet, even as she works two jobs and with her mom’s help. Until the day Hugh walks into the bar where she works and the sparks fly. I prefer not to give away the storyline but to instead let you enjoy discovering their journey as it unfolds. Melissa Foster does an amazing job tell a story so lifelike that you feel like you could meet all these people on the street.

This is my second time enjoying this story. I read it on my kindle years ago but the audio version allowed me to listen more closely to the words and to get the feelings or vibes, if you will, even more in-depth. The Narrator does a great job bringing the words to life, even changing the tone of his voice at times. An amazing adventure overall. I hope you will take the leap and take a listen. Enjoy

[Nini (LaPtiteVieLivresqueDeNini) Jennifer Athrurion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Que dire ?

Ça y est, la série en compagnie des Braden de Weston est finie.
Nostalgique ? Je l’avoue, un petit peu. Au fil des tomes on s’attache à tout ce petit monde et c’est un petit pincement au cœur de leur dire au revoir.
Dans ce dernier tome nous partons à la découverte de Hugh. Au fil des autres tomes on se fait sa propre opinion vis à vis de lui, de son train de vie, de sa personnalité mais on est loin d’avoir raison. J’ai été séduite par son besoin de « normalité », son honnêteté, ses principes. Quand il tombe amoureux il m’a carrément fait fondre. Ses attentions, ses gestes, ses paroles, son côté protecteur ….. aaah comment ne pas craquer.
L’héroïne va avoir du mal à laisser tomber ses barrières, elle ne s’autorise pas facilement le bonheur et sur certaines points ça va compliquer les choses. Elle se prive de trop en croyant faire au mieux mais elle ne se rend pas compte que c’est à l’excès même si dans un sens on la comprend aussi. Il faut qu’elle ouvre les yeux pour ne pas passer à côté de quelque chose de merveilleux.

Ce tome se lit avec plaisir, sans prise de tête , on a une romance comme on les aime avec une famille qui, quand elle aime c’est à 100%.
Bref sans surprise j’ai adoré ce dernier tome. Vive les Braden de Weston hihihi.

[Linda Ketter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was actually surprised in this book. I never expected Hugh (playboy) to settle down especially with a woman with a child. Brianna got pregnant right after college and has been a single mom, working two jobs ever since. When Hugh comes into her life, he turns it upside down giving her and her daughter gifts that she would never purchase on her own. As a matter of fact, she tells Hugh he has to stop buying Layla things because it's too much and she doesn't want her daughter to expect this when he's gone. But he has no intention of going anywhere.

The birthday party was so much fun for little Layla. And let's not forget the theater he rents out to have her play that she wrote produced by family and friends. He thinks of everything. But is he really ready to be a dad and husband? And is Brianna ready to trust him that he won't leave?

I think Hugh is my favorite Braden at the moment. Growing up with a single mom, this story really hit home for me. Unfortunately, there are no Hugh Braden's in real life. So this story is bittersweet for me.

As always, BJ Harrison brings home this story with impeccable taste and I love listening to his portrayal of the Bradens.

[Michelle Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read all of Melissa Foster’s books and this is one of my favorites. I really liked this story getting to know more about Hugh Braden (Prince Hugh), Brianna Heart, and of course Layla Heart. It was nice to see Hugh outside of his family and see how his life is and how he handles his demanding yet sometimes dangerous career all the while finding himself thinking about the beautiful Brianna. I really liked how the story progressed and I also liked how they talked about Brianna’s concerns and how they ultimately decided to see where things would go. I also really enjoyed our secondary characters in this story as well and the ending was wonderful. I listened to this book as an audio book narrated by B J Harrison. I liked his narration and I thought he did a good job from beginning to end. I could hear a little bit of a drawl from Hugh (reminding me of Hal), and I thought he also did a good job with the narration when Hugh, Brianna and Kat were chatting and, I liked his narration of Bill and of course he gets me every time he comes on as Hal. Great story and narration.

[kgagnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Hugh, Brianna's heartwarming and steamy romance! Brianna is a single mom who works hard to make a life for her young daughter and herself. She was burned before and is determined to stay single until her daughter is grown. But when a sexy man walks into the bar where she works and tries to catch her attention, she questions her decisions. When he works hard to get her to trust him, and he puts her daughter first, she can't help but give in. Hugh is intrigued by this beautiful woman who loves her family, and doesn't care about his fame or money. He never understood the epic love his father had for his mother, until he met Brianna, and fell fast and hard. Now he must convince her to trust him and that he will always love and cherish both her and her daughter. But will Brianna's quiet life be able to mesh with the fame that comes with Hugh's success? This was such a beautiful, sweet, and passionate story. Hugh, and Brianna are complete opposites yet are so perfect together with their shared love of family, along with their explosive chemistry. I love all their family and friends who are fun, quirky, loving and supportive.
B.J. Harrison continues to narrate this series beautifully. His voice is smooth and calm, yet expressive, setting each scene perfectly, and bringing these characters and story to life, making this a captivating listen.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wraps up the Braden series with Hugh Braden’s story. Hugh is a top-notch race car driver looking for some quiet place and people who are not after him for his fame and fortune. Going to a quiet neighborhood bar for a blind date, Hugh is immediately drawn to his waitress, Brianna Heart, a young single other of a six year old girl. In spite of Brianna’s hesitations, the sparks fly quickly. I loved Hugh and his dedication to Brianna’s child. The relationship between Hugh and Brianna is delightful. Brianna’s constant second guessing herself was a bit annoying. I hate it when women think it is better to break off a relationship than “risk getting hurt”. Other than that I very much enjoyed this story and am looking forward to diving into the Remington series.

As usual, B. J. Harrison did an amazing job narrating this audiobook. His voice is delightful to listen to and each character has a very distinctive voice.

***I received a copy of this audiobook and this is my own, unbiased, review.***

[Angie McCune · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hugh Braden is a race car driver that prefers to stay out of the spotlight when away from the track. In an attempt to do this, he finds himself seeking out a quiet place to meet a blind date. This is where he meets Brianna Heart. Bri is a waitress, photographer, and mother that works 2 jobs to give her daughter Layla a stable environment. At first sight, Hugh and Bri feel a connection. Hugh’s blind date ends quickly and he is drawn back to the tavern, seeking out Bri.

Over the course of the next few days, Hugh returns frequently, learning more about Bri and falling farther for her every time they are together. Bri has many walls up in an effort to protect Layla as well as to protect herself. Hugh works to make those walls crumble, brick by brick!

I truly enjoyed listening to this audio book after reading the print version when it was first released!

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book in the series!
I love all of Melissa Foster’s book and especially the ones with the Braden family, but this one is by far the best one in the series! I fell in love with Hugh Braden from the moment he laid eyes on Brianna. The way he acted, talked and responded to Brianna was so heartwarming that you can’t help but fall in love with the man. Of course being a single mom to a precious little girl, Brianna is very wary of starting anything with Hugh, but he never lets her back away from him. The chemistry between these two is off the charts and will make you swoon. I love how Hugh is with Layla and how he makes sure to include her in all their decisions. The ending of this book had me in tears and I was sad that it came to an end as I just love reading about these guys. Don’t miss this book!

[Amy Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hugh Braden is a professional race car driver. Brianna Heart is a single mother working as a bartender whose real passion is photography. While waiting me meet a blind date, Brianna catches Hugh’s attention. He is instantly smitten. After he drops of his blind date, he returns to the bar to seek out Brianna.

Brianna’s sole focus is on her six-year-old daughter Layla; she is not looking for any type of relationship due to a 12-year plan she has set for herself, but Hugh consumes her thoughts. She has no idea who he is and that’s a refreshing thing for Hugh. As they get to know each other, Brianna begins to see that Hugh is truly a caring, honest and passionate man. Once she learns of his profession, will she let her insecurities keep her from the most amazing man she’s ever met or will she let them go to find her HEA.

[Brenda Gibbons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Winner - Loved this story ❤️!! Audiobook Review 🎧
As I listen to each story, they just keep getting better and now this one is my new favorite! From the other books, I always had Hugh pegged as a playboy, but here you see him meet Brianna and start falling fall her and wanting more. Brianna's past is holding her back and Hugh has to break through that and watching that happen while they get to know each other and fall in love. It was also so heartwarming to see how Hugh and Brianna's daughter Layla had a "father / daughter" like relationship right from the beginning. This story makes you want to have your own Hugh!! I love seeing the interaction with the Braden family as always, especially Treat and Hal - I just love this family! This is a book you just have to listen to! Narration was also great. I am looking forward to the next one!

[Jen Landers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I initially read this beautiful love story by Melissa Foster a couple years ago, and recently had the opportunity to get the audiobook and rediscover Hugh and Breanna’s story. Bree is a single mom, doing her best to raise her daughter and find her way. I love BJ Harrison’s narration of the characters—you can feel the chemistry coming through in the story. Even though Hugh is living the life of a no-strings bachelor race car driver, his Braden family upbringing and values shine through and he falls for her. But, can he convince her to set aside her 12 year plan of putting her daughter first? They can’t deny their desire to be together and the love developing, but they have a lot to consider in trying to bring together their two worlds.