What do you think?
Rate this book
The Heart of Main Street #4
Storybook Romance
Boy Meets Girl...Again
It's been more than ten years, but Allison True has never forgotten her high school crush, Sam Franklin. Back in Bygones, her only focus is keeping her new bookstore afloat--yet the single dad of twin toddlers is testing her resolve to be career minded. Getting involved with a man who vowed never to love again is a recipe for disaster in Allison's book. But life with Sam and his twins could give her the happily ever after she's always dreamed of.
The Heart of Main They're rebuilding the town one step--and heart--at a time
It's been more than ten years, but Allison True has never forgotten her high school crush, Sam Franklin. Back in Bygones, her only focus is keeping her new bookstore afloat--yet the single dad of twin toddlers is testing her resolve to be career minded. Getting involved with a man who vowed never to love again is a recipe for disaster in Allison's book. But life with Sam and his twins could give her the happily ever after she's always dreamed of.
The Heart of Main They're rebuilding the town one step--and heart--at a time
219 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
29 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 24, 2017
I really enjoyed this sweet story!
I liked the way that the main characters got to know each other. The town in this story sounds very charming!
I plan to read more from this series!
I liked the way that the main characters got to know each other. The town in this story sounds very charming!
I plan to read more from this series!
May 21, 2018
This is the 1st book I read by Lissa Manley. I loved ❤ this book's storyline. I loved ❤ the Christian theme in this story. I loved ❤ Allison's character. I loved ❤ Sam's character. I loved ❤ Nicky & Rosey, they were adorable. I loved ❤ the ending. This was a cute, fun story to read. Awesome job Ms. Manley.
December 7, 2013
More Bygones perfection. Sam liked Allison back in high school but she was his sisters best friend and his sister warned him off.
Allison also liked Sam and did everything she could to be near him. But then he was a jock. Everyone loved him and she was just his sisters friend. Now years later, Sam has gone through a painful divorce and has shared custody of his twins. Allison has tried a few different jobs in life and now returned to Bygones to open a bookstore as part of the SOS program.
The twins fall for Allison instantly, and she's great with them, but Sam and Allison have their work cut out for them on trying to figure out their relationship, or rather the fact that neither of them wants one.
And we still don't know who has bankrolled the SOS project on Main Street.
Allison also liked Sam and did everything she could to be near him. But then he was a jock. Everyone loved him and she was just his sisters friend. Now years later, Sam has gone through a painful divorce and has shared custody of his twins. Allison has tried a few different jobs in life and now returned to Bygones to open a bookstore as part of the SOS program.
The twins fall for Allison instantly, and she's great with them, but Sam and Allison have their work cut out for them on trying to figure out their relationship, or rather the fact that neither of them wants one.
And we still don't know who has bankrolled the SOS project on Main Street.
November 25, 2013
Its a quick read. I got tired of the repeating......."I don't have time to fall in love with him/her" "I can't fall in love with him/her". Please no one acts like that. If the author took out 55 of them reminding themselves to not fall in love and stick to a story that would have made the book better.
May 15, 2014
Story book romance
Allison runs the book store in Bygones a town where they are trying to get revived. Sam Franklin comes into her shop which she had a crush on in high school. He has twins , boy and girl. He gets her to help take care of the twins some when he needed a babysitter. She falls in love with the twins and then with Sam.
Allison runs the book store in Bygones a town where they are trying to get revived. Sam Franklin comes into her shop which she had a crush on in high school. He has twins , boy and girl. He gets her to help take care of the twins some when he needed a babysitter. She falls in love with the twins and then with Sam.
November 12, 2013
Another great book in The Heart Of Main Street series..Bygones,Kansas is a great little town to visit and love the characters..Highjly recommend this to anyone who loves a great love story wth a Christian theme..
Read
December 29, 2014Received 4 stars from RT Book Reviews
Miniseries: The Heart of Main Street
Miniseries: The Heart of Main Street
November 29, 2013
Loved, loved, loved this book! This whole series is awesome! Anytime you have a story that pulls your heartstrings you have a winner!
April 7, 2022
DNF @ pg 99. And it took a LOT to push myself that far.
I actually had to take a break from the series and come back to it, because the last one made me so angry. ((I highly recommend 'Love, Inspired' author Carrie Lighte, by the way...)) I hadn't heard of Lissa Manley, so I was *hoping* that when I returned, it would be to something better... silly me. Hoping is always a stupid thing to do...
Allison grew up in Bygones, left when ♥Sam♥ - the guy she crushed on in High School - left for college, and hates her parents for putting the farm before the family. She pretty much raised her sisters (when she wasn't in school... or at her best friend Lori's... or at sport events... or at church... which basically equates to "she didn't raise her sisters, and the author is full of it".)
Anyhow, now she's back, and took a grant in order to open a bookstore in a failing town. Because the first thing *everyone* does is goes out and spends $17 a visit on paperbacks in a downturned economy. She doesn't have a ton of revenue because things are slow (duh)... but she works SO HARD to make a go of this... like, she's even, like, there until MIDNIGHT most nights, according to the book. Except... why? If things are slow...?
And then *HE* walks in. ♥SAM♥. Mr. Basketball Center from high school that she luvluvluvluvved as a girl. He's divorced and has two three-year old twins that he's pitted against each other. "My fry is the longest! I have more sand, you can't have as much! I want to be first! I'm faster! I want to stay. I want more. I want to race! I want! I want-I want-I want - Me! Me! Me!" Which of course the author thinks is absolutely adorable, and they're both moon-eyed at each other over the heads of the little screaming, fighting brats. Because awesome... and ♥Sam♥.
But Alison's got a business to focus on. But she luvluvluvluvvs the kids...! But she's got to make her store successful, and doesn't have room in her life for a relationship. But she sooooooo wishes those twin squallers were hers...! But she can't lose focus. But dreamy high school crush...!!! But she's got goals... But ♥Sam!♥... and on. And on. AND on it goes.
And the storytelling is abysmal. On pg 21 she tells Nicky everyone who behaves gets to flip a page during Story Time. Except on pg 22, only Nicky and another little girl get to flip pages. ((!!!)) On top of that, when Nicky and Rosie come in the store, Alison *G.U.S.H.E.S* over them, and oh, hey, there are other kids on the carpet, so let's go read a story. ((She plays seriously UGLY favorites, throughout the whole book. No wonder she has few customers.))
Then Miss Caroline comes in and says, "Wow, Sam, you must be SO busy what with twins!" to which he replies "Well, and I teach all day, do after-school tutoring, and coach basketball, so actually I don't *HAVE* time for the kids, but thanks for asking. Wanna watch 'em for me?" ((I'm being sarcastic, but with THAT much on his plate as a single father? Is *ANYONE* buying this?))
Then ♥Sam♥ gets a phone call in the middle of the next Story Time, and Alison *WALKS AWAY FROM THE KIDS* there for the reading to go nose in as to what his call is about, and then offers to watch his kids cuz he's gotta leave , and then goes back to the Story Time, but he has to re-interrupt everyone to give kissie-kissies to the twins, and... THEN she follows him up to the front of the store because *WHAT* Story Time? There's only ♥Sam♥...!!!
Moving on, ♥Sam♥ wants to get two kids on his B-ball team to go to Alison's Creative Writing Workshop. Except he is stuck with the twins, and he has to coach B-ball, but Alison can watch the three-year old twins *AND* teach the workshop, because ♥Sam♥... who comes in afterwards with the B-ball guys who C.A.N.T. attend the workshop, because practice. Only she STILL gives them homework. On top of their school homework. Which on top of their practice is TOTALLY going to help them out. ((As in, wouldn't after-school tutoring be a MUCH better idea?)) But we have to make the bookstore relevant somehow...
And the writing. GAH...
--- "Teresa (his ex) - a city girl - hated living in Bygones, and blamed Sam for keeping hem there - but Sam had been willing to tough it out and stay together for the kids' sakes." WHAT. IS. THAT?! What does one have to do with the other? That's crap writing, right there.
--- ♥Sam♥ comes in with Rory and Scott. "Wow, you boys are tall - even taller than Sam!" Alison says. "What do your parents feed you?" Rory answers, "Anything, as long as there's plenty of it. He wasn't quite as tall as Sam, the story says, then. (((BUT YOU JUST SAID THEY BOTH WERE!!!)))
But my favorite part is on Pg 41, where it says "In order for her to have the life she wanted, she was going to keep Sam in the 'father' department and focus strictly on herself... and Happy Endings (← bookstore), of course." So... she's all about herself and her store. While lying about ♥Sam♥. And screwing over the Lord God Almighty. Nice. Real nice.
I'm... out. I have too many other books to go any further with this.
I actually had to take a break from the series and come back to it, because the last one made me so angry. ((I highly recommend 'Love, Inspired' author Carrie Lighte, by the way...)) I hadn't heard of Lissa Manley, so I was *hoping* that when I returned, it would be to something better... silly me. Hoping is always a stupid thing to do...
Allison grew up in Bygones, left when ♥Sam♥ - the guy she crushed on in High School - left for college, and hates her parents for putting the farm before the family. She pretty much raised her sisters (when she wasn't in school... or at her best friend Lori's... or at sport events... or at church... which basically equates to "she didn't raise her sisters, and the author is full of it".)
Anyhow, now she's back, and took a grant in order to open a bookstore in a failing town. Because the first thing *everyone* does is goes out and spends $17 a visit on paperbacks in a downturned economy. She doesn't have a ton of revenue because things are slow (duh)... but she works SO HARD to make a go of this... like, she's even, like, there until MIDNIGHT most nights, according to the book. Except... why? If things are slow...?
And then *HE* walks in. ♥SAM♥. Mr. Basketball Center from high school that she luvluvluvluvved as a girl. He's divorced and has two three-year old twins that he's pitted against each other. "My fry is the longest! I have more sand, you can't have as much! I want to be first! I'm faster! I want to stay. I want more. I want to race! I want! I want-I want-I want - Me! Me! Me!" Which of course the author thinks is absolutely adorable, and they're both moon-eyed at each other over the heads of the little screaming, fighting brats. Because awesome... and ♥Sam♥.
But Alison's got a business to focus on. But she luvluvluvluvvs the kids...! But she's got to make her store successful, and doesn't have room in her life for a relationship. But she sooooooo wishes those twin squallers were hers...! But she can't lose focus. But dreamy high school crush...!!! But she's got goals... But ♥Sam!♥... and on. And on. AND on it goes.
And the storytelling is abysmal. On pg 21 she tells Nicky everyone who behaves gets to flip a page during Story Time. Except on pg 22, only Nicky and another little girl get to flip pages. ((!!!)) On top of that, when Nicky and Rosie come in the store, Alison *G.U.S.H.E.S* over them, and oh, hey, there are other kids on the carpet, so let's go read a story. ((She plays seriously UGLY favorites, throughout the whole book. No wonder she has few customers.))
Then Miss Caroline comes in and says, "Wow, Sam, you must be SO busy what with twins!" to which he replies "Well, and I teach all day, do after-school tutoring, and coach basketball, so actually I don't *HAVE* time for the kids, but thanks for asking. Wanna watch 'em for me?" ((I'm being sarcastic, but with THAT much on his plate as a single father? Is *ANYONE* buying this?))
Then ♥Sam♥ gets a phone call in the middle of the next Story Time, and Alison *WALKS AWAY FROM THE KIDS* there for the reading to go nose in as to what his call is about, and then offers to watch his kids cuz he's gotta leave , and then goes back to the Story Time, but he has to re-interrupt everyone to give kissie-kissies to the twins, and... THEN she follows him up to the front of the store because *WHAT* Story Time? There's only ♥Sam♥...!!!
Moving on, ♥Sam♥ wants to get two kids on his B-ball team to go to Alison's Creative Writing Workshop. Except he is stuck with the twins, and he has to coach B-ball, but Alison can watch the three-year old twins *AND* teach the workshop, because ♥Sam♥... who comes in afterwards with the B-ball guys who C.A.N.T. attend the workshop, because practice. Only she STILL gives them homework. On top of their school homework. Which on top of their practice is TOTALLY going to help them out. ((As in, wouldn't after-school tutoring be a MUCH better idea?)) But we have to make the bookstore relevant somehow...
And the writing. GAH...
--- "Teresa (his ex) - a city girl - hated living in Bygones, and blamed Sam for keeping hem there - but Sam had been willing to tough it out and stay together for the kids' sakes." WHAT. IS. THAT?! What does one have to do with the other? That's crap writing, right there.
--- ♥Sam♥ comes in with Rory and Scott. "Wow, you boys are tall - even taller than Sam!" Alison says. "What do your parents feed you?" Rory answers, "Anything, as long as there's plenty of it. He wasn't quite as tall as Sam, the story says, then. (((BUT YOU JUST SAID THEY BOTH WERE!!!)))
But my favorite part is on Pg 41, where it says "In order for her to have the life she wanted, she was going to keep Sam in the 'father' department and focus strictly on herself... and Happy Endings (← bookstore), of course." So... she's all about herself and her store. While lying about ♥Sam♥. And screwing over the Lord God Almighty. Nice. Real nice.
I'm... out. I have too many other books to go any further with this.
December 8, 2017
I think most women who read this will find the characters relatable and get drawn into the story of single-parent-of-twins Sam and bookstore owner Allison. I did think Allison took liberties with the twins from the start--suggesting activities that maybe weren't her place to suggest and that might have ruffled the feathers of a parent who hadn't known her as a family friend while growing up.
I fell in love with the small town of Bygones. It sounds like a great place to live (and hopefully to do business). I admired their SOS plan to revive main street--something I wish some communities around my area would do. I too wondered who the mysterious benefactor is--I haven't read others in the series so I don't know if the readers of earlier books in the series know (I'm guessing not or it might have been revealed to us in this book--but then again, if it was revealed in an earlier book of the series, there might be clues that those in the know would pick up on but might not be so evident to those not in the know until later. I do wonder if it is Allison's parents--seems unlikely, but possible.
The Happy Endings bookstore sounds inviting, and I wish I could stop in there.
I fell in love with the small town of Bygones. It sounds like a great place to live (and hopefully to do business). I admired their SOS plan to revive main street--something I wish some communities around my area would do. I too wondered who the mysterious benefactor is--I haven't read others in the series so I don't know if the readers of earlier books in the series know (I'm guessing not or it might have been revealed to us in this book--but then again, if it was revealed in an earlier book of the series, there might be clues that those in the know would pick up on but might not be so evident to those not in the know until later. I do wonder if it is Allison's parents--seems unlikely, but possible.
The Happy Endings bookstore sounds inviting, and I wish I could stop in there.
Read
January 22, 2020I really enjoyed this book I normally only read the Amish Love Inspired books but I decided to give a more Christianity based one a try and I really enjoyed it now I want to find some of the other books in the series!
March 19, 2025
I chose this book because it had AI audible. While the narration worked, the character speech was stilted, and read in the wrong voice quite often. Audio narrators have no worry about their jobs for quite a while.
The book was sweet but slow.
The book was sweet but slow.
October 21, 2025
What a great story! I loved visiting the town of Bygones, Kansas, and meeting all the characters. Looking forward to reading the other books in the series and discovering if the plan to save the town was a success and who the mysterious benefactor is.
June 27, 2020
I'm a sucker for a book about bookstores and love. Enjoyable light read.
October 16, 2022
I could not finish this book. Characters were so annoying.
February 1, 2015
After life seemed to not turn out the way she expected, Allison True finds herself back in the small hometown that she grew up in - Bygones and has found herself the proud owner of a bookshop on Main Street. The community decided to out up a project called the "SOS" and help starter businesses in the community and Allison won her bid with a lovely little bookshop, a dream come true for her. Over the past few months, she has learned about her customers and what they love and always a lover of children , has begun a storytime in her bookshop twice a week. I liked this idea, as if I ever opened up a bookshop- I would run a storytime as well as children and books are two of my favourite things. On one storytime day, a blast from Allison's past walks in with twins - Nicky and Rosie. Sam was her best friend Lori's older brother and her childhood crush. Are these two ready for a storybook romance or will they let their busy lives get in the way ? As Sam has his twins to think about, is Allison the right fit and is she ready for an instant family ? Can Allison prove to Sam, that she absolutely loves his twins as if they were her own ?
Find out in "Storybook Romance" , this is the perfect smalltown romance reads for those rainy wet days when you just want to curl up with a true romance read and what better setting for all those readers , than a bookshop in a small town community.
Find out in "Storybook Romance" , this is the perfect smalltown romance reads for those rainy wet days when you just want to curl up with a true romance read and what better setting for all those readers , than a bookshop in a small town community.
April 29, 2014
"Storybook Romance" was a great book in The Heart of Main Street series. I really enjoyed the characters - namely Allison, Sam, and his adorable three-year-old twins, Rosie and Nicky. The storyline was great as well; however, the romance was a little lacking and didn't really proceed until the end. All in all, it was a wonderful story to read.
Read
December 29, 2014Miniseries: The Heart of Main Street
December 17, 2013
This book also had the main characters already acquainted, which facilitates the romance. Clean romance, happy ending, all of that.
September 10, 2015
It was wonderful, for a change of pace, to read a book with no sex, no violence and no bad words. to be uplifted instead of put down.
September 13, 2016
Great story. Dialogue was a little repetitive.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews