All a Heart Needs

The Callaways #5

by Barbara Freethy

In ALL A HEART NEEDS, the fifth book in the Callaway Series, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Barbara Freethy delivers an emotional, heartwarming romance as well as a tantalizing mystery.

Sean Callaway is the black sheep of the Callaway clan, the sibling who refused to follow in the family tradition of firefighting. Instead, he lives his life in music. On the outside, he's a free-spirited rock star, but on the inside, Sean is haunted by the death of a childhood friend, a tragedy no one knows he witnessed. He's kept the secret for twenty years. But nothing stays hidden forever…

Jessica Schilling, a young widow, moved to San Francisco to reunite her six-year-old stepson with his long-lost identical twin brother, Brandon. She rents a house just around the corner from the Callaways, and while cleaning out the garage for the previous owner Jessica stumbles upon a very old secret—one that someone might just be willing to kill to keep.

Suddenly, Sean is thrust back into the past. He's forced to face his most disturbing memories, not only to solve the riddle of the tragedy that ripped his life apart, but also to save the woman he loves…

ALSO AVAILABLE in the CALLAWAY SERIES:

On A Night Like This (#1)
So This Is Love (#2)
Falling For A Stranger (#3)
Between Now And Forever (#4)

Nobody But You (A Callaway Wedding Novella)

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Fiction, Chick Lit

200 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2014

About the author

Barbara's love of writing developed out of a love of reading. Growing up in an all-boy neighborhood, she spent quite a bit of time reading through her mother's large library, many of which were romantic novels. After graduating from the University of California at Santa Barbara, she went into Public Relations, but soon discovered that writing was her true passion.

Barbara was traditionally published for many years, then formed her own publishing company FOG CITY PUBLISHING in 2011 and has since sold over 10 million books! She has published 75 novels ranging from mystery thrillers to romantic suspense and contemporary romance.

Her book SUMMER SECRETS was a #1 New York Times bestseller! And twenty-five other novels have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Lists. She is currently writing two ongoing series, a contemporary romance series set in Whisper Lake and a romantic suspense series: Off The Grid: FBI Series. She is also known for her bestselling Callaway Family Series, which offers up fourteen books and two novellas.

When Barbara isn't writing or publishing, which isn't very often these days, she is playing tennis, hanging out with friends and family in beautiful Lake Tahoe or reading books!

For a complete list of her books, visit her website!

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 3.5

It was good, but the series itself is starting to be a little redundant. Also the problem, Sean's guilt over a past event and the investigation of the event wasn't all that gripping. I think it's actually quite hard to make a musician fully involved in a book, to much is left to the imagination. Usually when it's done well you get involved in the backstage life, in this book it barely made an appearance.

But the Calloway family itself is great, so it's hard to let go. I'll probably be reading till the series is done... there are I think 3 more kids to partner off... lol.



All the prior books are 4+ stars in my book, this one sagged a bit.

[Ian Mcnamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a series, really enjoying these books.

[Bette Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another awesome Callaway story. Sean and Jessica's story was wonderful, filled with suspense and an incredible sweet romance. I just love these characters and I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.

[E-Reader Addict · Rating 4 out of 5]

After finishing book four in The Callaways series, I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen with Sean and Jessica, who met and became friends during Between Now and Forever. I found Jessica to be a strong, sympathetic character, and being the romantic at heart that I am, really wanted her to get her happily-ever-after!

Some back story from the previous book:

Jessica didn’t have the most stable life growing up. With a mother who was a professional dancer, they moved around frequently chasing jobs and men. They finally moved to Las Vegas, but life as a Vegas show girl isn’t the most stable. When she meets an older man, Travis, who sweeps her off her feet and marries her - making her an instant mother to his four year old son - it’s a dream come true for her. But then Travis is killed in a car accident, leaving her alone with the step-son she loves dearly. Fast forward two years, her son has been kidnapped, and in the process of searching for him, she meets Sean Callaway.

Sean Callaway is a musician, with all the stereotypes you associate with that profession. He’s attracted to Jessica, but knows she needs stability and security which he can’t offer her.

All a Heart Needs begins with Jessica having moved to San Francisco to be closer to the Callaway family. Sean is doing his best to steer clear of Jessica, but when he finds out she’s just rented the house of his childhood best friend who was killed in a house fire, it drags up old memories and nightmares he hadn’t had in ages.

All a Heart Needs is another good, solid romantic suspense. But once again, we’re treated to another Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys-type story with one mystery leading to another, and one random clue leading to another mystery. And there’s soap opera drama thrown in for good measure. Thankfully, at least this time our heroine actually says “we aren’t investigators, should we really be talking to people?” No Jessica, you probably shouldn’t be. But then there’s no book if you don’t, so…

I actually liked this book more than the previous book. Barbara Freethy is a good, solid writer. The plot moves along at a good pace, the characters are likeable, the dialogue is good. I don’t have much to complain about in that department. I just think the story has a little bit of a believability issue. Not that I want (or need) every book I read to be completely realistic, but at some point it just gets to be a little too unrealistic (or maybe this family just has the WORST luck ever with all the things that seem to have gone wrong with all the siblings!).

At any rate, I wouldn't be opposed to reading more by Barbara Freethy at some time in the future. But for now I think I’ve had my fill. I wanted to see Jessica find happiness again, and I did, so I’m going to call it good and move on to the next book!

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this months ago and forgot to leave a review...I am beginning to wonder how often this occurs?! Anyways, I remembered lukewarm feelings and predictable plot.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

All a Heart Needs is another book by Barbara Freethy. It is book 5 in the Calloway sagas. Once more, Barbara takes us into the lives of the Calloway family.

Sean is the sixth in line of the Calloway children. He is different from the others. The others are firemen, smoke jumpers, teachers, doctors, arson investigators and he is a musician. He and his father have been at odds since he was about eight. Sean continually disappoints his father and Sean has quit trying to fix things. Unfortunately, he is living in the garage apartment at his parents' house until the sublease is over at his condo. He had been on a tour with his band and returned early.

Jessica Schilling has moved to San Francisco to be close to her son's twin brother. Both Kyle and Brandon has been kidnapped and thankfully returned to their families. However, Brandon is autistic and responds very well to his brother. The two families decide to co-parent the boys. This way, Kyle gets to enjoy a big family with lots of men and Brandon gets to be near Kyle. Jessica had spent time with Sean while they were searching for the boys. An attachment had started to grow between them; but Sean was a musician who traveled and Jessica, having grown up in such an atmosphere, refused to enter into such a relationship now.

When Jessica moves into a house around the corner from Sean's parents' house, she learns that the house had partially burned and a little girl and her father had been killed there. To make matters worse, the little girl, Stacy, was best friends with Sean. She had been at his house but when they had a fight and he told her to go away, she went home. He didn't tell anyone she had gone. She was suppose to stay at the Calloway's until her mother and brother returned from a field trip. Sean sees the fire from his bedroom and goes out of the house to see where it was. When he arrived at the fire, it was Stacy's house and as he watched, she came running out of the house on fire. Sean's father is the first off the fire truck and he smothers the flames but Stacy dies of her injuries. Sean never tells anyone about that night and what he saw but he never had anything to do with firemen, fire trucks, or the fire station after that. Now the lady he is interested in is living in her house. Now Sean wants answers about the fire.

Can his sister help find the fire reports? What about the neighbors Sally Watson and Brett Murphy, what is their connection? Can he find the answers he needs and help Jessica at the same time?

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this as a Goodreads giveaway. Thanks Barbara. I had not read any of the Callaway series or indeed any books by this author before. It didn’t matter. I quickly picked up what was going on and was drawn into the lives of Jessica Schilling, a young widow and her young step-son Kyle who has been re-united with his long lost identical but also autistic twin Brandon. She moves to Sand Francisco and rents a house so the brothers can live near other.
Sean Callaway, considered by his father to be the black sheep of the Callaway family because he is into rock music and not fire fighting, is temporarily back home staying in the garage of the Callaway home. But Sean has plenty of reasons why he hates fire, since a fire killed his best friend Stacy and her Dad when Sean was eight. Suddenly after Jessica moves into the house where Stacy died, Sean is forced to confront his fears and learn the truth of what happened that night.
This is a story that deals with secrets, guilt, neighbours acting suspiciously and a mystery that needs to be solved. There is also a simmering romance threaded through it. I’m not a great romance reader but I thought this one worked well. The characters and the story hooked me right in. I started the book one day and finished it the next and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. It was a pleasant change from some of the gritty, depressing books I have read lately.
My one criticism is I wasn’t overly enamoured of the cover. To me the characters look younger than they are in the book, plus I’m also not a fan of having characters visually depicted for me. I like to imagine them. That quibble aside this was an enjoyable read and I was very glad I won it. I will keep an eye out for more of Barbara’s books.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

In ALL A HEART NEEDS, the fifth book in the Callaway Series, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Barbara Freethy delivers an emotional, heartwarming romance as well as a tantalizing mystery.
Sean Callaway is the black sheep of the Callaway clan, the sibling who refused to follow in the family tradition of firefighting. Instead, he lives his life in music. On the outside, he's a free-spirited rock star, but on the inside, Sean is haunted by the death of a childhood friend, a tragedy no one knows he witnessed. He's kept the secret for twenty years. But nothing stays hidden forever…
Jessica Schilling, a young widow, moved to San Francisco to reunite her six-year-old stepson with his long-lost identical twin brother, Brandon. She rents a house just around the corner from the Callaways, and while cleaning out the garage for the previous owner Jessica stumbles upon a very old secret—one that someone might just be willing to kill to keep.
Suddenly, Sean is thrust back into the past. He's never thought of himself as a hero, but now he's forced to face his most disturbing memories, not only to solve the riddle of the tragedy that ripped his life apart, but also to save the woman he loves…
This is the first of the series i have read. (I always seem to do things backwards...lol) But i loved
this book so much, i want to read the rest. It was one of my favorites! 5 stars.

[Niyati Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Although it took me a little while to get used to these characters. It took me time to warm up to them. I felt that Jess and Sean were two very different characters and somehow their easy characters from Book 4 did not flow into Book 5. After reading about the Callaways in the earlier books, they seemed to be people who had a somewhat dreamy characteristic about them. It felt fictional even though their problems felt real.

Given an Indian context, Jess seemed to hit too close to home, becoming a stay at home mom giving up her dreams. It felt almost like a daily occurrence and somehow I didn't want to read much about it.

I then remembered that the purpose of a book is to make us question our beliefs, whether it be fiction or non fiction and for that I appreciate this book. It kindled Jess's dream and I hope someday, mine kindles too.

My only problem is, the earlier books had a very clear reference to the next Callaway who would be featured. Book 1 had a lot of Emma, Book 2 had Drew and Book 3 had Nicole. Book 4 spoke about Sean. But this book speaks nothing about Shayla. I feel somewhat deprived about her as a character.

Lets hope the other stories are just as great!

[steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know if these books are getting worse, or if they weren't that great to begin with but this one was like a soap opera from start to finish. It wasn't bad but jeez, my head was spinning by the end. I do have to say I'm getting used to these characters going from love to marriage really fast. I wasn't so bothered by the end proposal in this book. What I was bothered by however, was the lack of her son. Kyle was basically only in like 6 scenes in this book, the rest he was at school or with Nicole's family as they "co-parent" him (which is another issue of this book I was bothered by). For a book about a single mom, she certainly had a lot of time on her hands to go running around with Sean trying to find clues.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

i liked the characters and premise, but I know the author can do better with writing. I've read other stuff by her, and she can do better. The mystery wasn't as engaging as I would have liked, but I liked that the villain was left in doubt as to who it was. The romance was inconsistent for me, I thought the characterization wavered a few times and other parts were rushed I like this author but not the story really. I didn't hate it but it was just kind of meh.

[Patti Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved All a Heart Needs by Barbara Freethy. It is the fifth book in the Callaways series. I love that each book in the series keeps getting better. I could not put it down and I loved every page. Who doesn't love big families, hot men, strong women, and love stories? Barbara Freethy continues to show that she is an incredible storyteller. I really enjoy how the book is told from the perspective of the main characters. I love getting the insight and feelings from the different characters. All a Heart Needs is a love at first sight love story and is filled with heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. I love the lighter moments where I find myself smiling and laughing out loud and the bittersweet moments. All a Heart Needs is filled with such moments, and with so much emotion. It is filled with all those things that we have come to love and expect in a Barbara Freethy love story, especially the poignant and bittersweet moments that filled this page turner. All a Heart Needs is the story of Jessica Schilling and Sean Callaway, the black sheep of Callaway family. Jessica and Sean meet when he shows up in Angel’s Bay to support his sister Nicole, when his nephew Brandon and Jessica’s son, Kyle are kidnapped. Jessica is a single mother; she decides to move to San Francisco so that Kyle can be closer to Brandon. Kyle’s presence has had a positive impact on Brandon who has autism. Jessica had no family in Angel’s Bay, and loves the atmosphere surrounding the Callaway family. Jessica and Kyle move into the Emery house, around the corner from the Callaways. Helen Emery has moved into an assisted living facility, and Jessica has agreed to clean out the attic in the house. There was a fire in the house over twenty years ago that changed the course of Sean Callaway’s life. Sean’s best friend, Stacy and her father, Robert were killed in what was suspected as an accidental fire. Jessica and Sean, investigate how the fire was really set and they put their lives at risk. While investigating, Jessica and Sean become closer, but Jessica does not want to get involved with a musician, after seeing it first hand with her mother. Barbara Freethy kept me guessing as to what really happened and who was behind the house fire that killed Stacy and Robert. My favorite part of the story is how Sean finally tells his father, Jack that he was outside the Emery house the night of the fire and saw Stacy running out of her house on fire. His father has always been so angry with Sean over the events of that day, and Sean has always felt guilt. I love how their relationship changes, when the Callaways attend the open house of Sean’s new music studio. I love how Sean shows Jessica his music studio before the open house and encourages her to live out her dreams of dancing. I love that Barbara Freethy writes about strong women with their own careers and the hot men who are attracted to them for more than just their looks. I love all the descriptions of San Francisco and the surrounding areas in the setting that Barbara Freethy details so beautifully. I love the Callaways and am looking forward to reading the other books in the series. All a Heart Needs felt like a family reunion of sorts, because you get to catch up with all the Callaways. I love that neither Jessica and Sean were looking for love, but were able to find out. I love that Sean’s memory of the night of the fire helps him solve the mystery of the fire and saves Jessica’s life. Once again, I really enjoyed the poignant and bittersweet moments in the story as well as the plot twists that I have come to love and expect in a Barbara Freethy book. I love how Jessica and Sean reunited with one another and all the emotionally charged conversations they had. I thoroughly enjoyed All a Heart Needs, who does not love big loving families and dynamics of those families. I really loved the ending and the happily ever afters.

[Ann-marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My third Callaways book in a few days. Sean and Jessica story started in #4 Between Now and Forever. Fast forward and Jessica has moved from Angel bay to San Francisco so Kyle her son could be close to his twin Brandon. Sean and Jessica know there is an attraction between them but keep promising each other they will not act upon their feelings due him not being a man who wants to settled down and her being a single mom and have no room in her life for a fling. As it always with these types of storyline the hero and heroine never stick to staying away from each other. Also with this series we are not only getting a romance but a Mystery suspense. Sean has been haunted for years by his childhood friend who died in a fire at eight years old. The old feeling of the loss becomes alive again after Jessica moves into the house and so starts the mystery due to what Jessica and Sean finds in the attic and they begin to wonder if the fire years ago was truly an accident.

[Gwen S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sean, Jess, and Kyle Make Three! 3.25*****

Sean, the Callaway’s musical, black sheep, has carried his secret with him for more than twenty years, only to have that grim, lethal night resurge with Jess’ occupation of Stacie’s old home. Stacie, his best friend at eight, who he witnessed being burnt to death, after he angrily told her to go home, after a child hood spiff. Now the past is screaming out to him, as his heart opens up to Jessica and her son, Kyle, Brandon’s twin brother.
Together the two, Sean and Jess, while cleaning out the attic discovered some pictures, which caused Sean to ask Emma to reopen the investigation. Old suspects start to become cautious and the murderer is finally caught and brought to justice.
Great plot, with awesome characters, but I can’t believe the Great Jack Callaway allowed that investigation to be closed so quickly, Linda did not recognize her son’s ( adopted son’s traumatic event), and Jess did not proactively hide that computer away safely, when she felt eyes upon her. Anyhow... Another HEA ending!!!

[Doro´s Buchgalaxie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sean Callaway ist das schwarze Schaf des Callaway-Klans und ein Musiker. Ein Rockstar und führt so ein Leben. Das denkt auf jeden Fall seine Familie. Als Jessica in die Stadt zieht und dann noch in das Nachbarhaus seiner Familie. Dort wo es ein tragisches Ereignis in der Vergangenheit von Sean gab. Etwas, was er nie wirklich vergessen hat. Leben den knistern zwischen den Beiden. Darf man dabei sein, wie Sean sich seiner Vergangenheit stellt. Es ist romantisch schön und gleichzeitig war es sehr emotional. Die Spannung kommt durch die Vergangenheit des Hauses auf. Die einen auch nicht so leicht loslässt. Es ist einfach schön, das Buch zu lesen und die Liebesgeschichte von Jessica und Sean zu erleben. Natürlich tauchen wieder der Rest des Clans auf. Außerdem habe ich mich total gefreut, was am Ende so alles passiert ist.

[Nicole Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to get this book after I found out it was about Sean Calloway and Jessica. If you read book 4 in this series, you know there were some serious sparks between the two. Sean is the self-proclaimed black sheep of the family. He is a musician and stays as far away fires. Jessica has moved to San Francisco to keep Brandon and Kyle together. As always, there is a love story in the midst of some serious chaos and a 20 year old mystery. Sean’s childhood best friend was killed in a fire. Despite the years past, there has not been any real resolution as to the how and why. Sean and Jessica embark on a journey to figure out what happened and try to fight the attraction that is growing between them.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I completely loved this 5th book in the Callaways series, featuring Sean and Jessica. I wasn’t sure I was going to like this one going into it, as Sean is the only Callaway who decided he wouldn’t have some sort of first responder career and I was drawn to this series because it’s a firefighter series, but the suspense plotline quickly sucked me in. Sean’s neighbor and friend died in a fire when they were eight. Sean watched her die and it’s why he was turned off from firefighting and never went into the profession like his siblings. When Jessica moves into that house with her son, she finds some things that belonged to Sean’s friend and they begin to investigate the fire from decades before. Really great suspense plot in this one! 5/5 stars.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book five of the Callaway Family Saga finds Sean trying to distance himself from the beautiful Jessica Schilling, not only because he is a musician and not ready to settle down, but because her stepson is the twin to Nichole and Ryan’s adopted son Brandon. He was well aware of his feelings for her and the family would kill him if he hurt Jessica by being careless. The problems started when she moved into a house just down the street from the Callaways in a house where one of Sean’s best friend, when he was eight, died in a fire that also killed his friend’s father. Sean never really got over the loss or the nightmares caused by his secret of that night. Really great book

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intrigue and romance for the win!! We get answers to why Sean doesn’t like fire, his relationship with his dad, a new relationship and solving an unknown crime...this story had it all and I loved it! The grandparents are not present in this story, but the book was so full of detective work and delving into year old secrets that it was okay that we didn’t spend more time on the family dark secret. I loved the music and dance scenes and how they could open up to each other. There were many moving parts to this story but they came together in one fantastic chain of events by the end!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

One more piece to the Callaway family puzzle. You can read it in a day. If you read more than one of the Callaway series and have any interest at all, you have to finish them. Unless you are the type of reader that can pitch a book after reading half of it. But I am an all or nothing reader, so I use them as my reading sorbet to cleanse the mind after a particularly intense read. The series serves that purpose well.

[Karole Petty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Callaways my family away from family!!! So waited for Sean/Jessica's story and WAS NOT disappointed!!! I hope this family just keeps growing because I do not know what I will do if their stories stop!!! I highly recommend this series and Barbara to everyone I know that reads!!!! I just love how Barbara catches you up so not a must to read all in series ….BUT you will fall in love with the "family" and what to read them all!!!


















'

[Vicki Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love fills the need!

I fell in love with these two in book #4 in this series. At that time the focus was on Nicole and Ryan, and their autistic child! I learned so much about autism, and the world of Savants. Going forward to the next book, and Sean & Jessica was only natural! That’s why I love a series of books... the story can be fully told! And, it was! Dreams becoming reality and nightmares being dealt with and discarded!!!!

[Marcia Haskell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can childhood memories ever be overcome

A boy who carries memories of a friend’s death tries to overcome the nightmares and results in order to help a woman who is raising her husband’s autistic son.

[Jo Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

All A Heart Needs

Another great Callaway book in the series! Sean and Jessica were interesting to learn more about. Suspense from the past carries through to the present. Love the big Callaway family!!!!

[Eileen Gernet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

This author captured emotions and weaves them into stories with cleaner subplots. Some situations in her books were actual situations and believe me, she nailed the thought process read on.

[Connie Willenburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never met a Callaway I didn't like

Loved this book - the plot, the characters, and everything else. Barbara Freethy sure knows how to tell a good story. I love how the Callaway family story is interwoven throughout the series. Her other series are the same way.

[Landra Chamberlain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Galloway story. The mystery had an unexpected solution that got solved way at the end of the book. This family proves again and again what family love is all about. Can't wait until the next book.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sean and his father don’t have the same relationship as the rest of the family. He feels he has continually disappointed his father and this book explores the reason for these feelings as well as his developing relationship with Jessica. It was ok, not the best in the series, but still enjoyable.

[Janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another nice easy read in this series. Romance with a bit of suspense.

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another good story about the Callaway family. Good book to read while traveling--a fast easy read. On to #6!