Wild Hearts

Suitor's Crossing: Hearts Collide #3

by Hallie Bennett

The third book in the Hearts Collide series!***
Return to Suitor's Crossing and their legend of heart sparks in the Hearts Collide series. These steamy romantic comedies feature plus-size curvy heroines and the gruff men who adore them!

Wild Hearts is a steamy novella with a curvy heroine, a bearded blue-collar mechanic, and cameos from your favorite people of Suitor's Crossing!

Genres: Romance, Novella

122 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 18, 2024

About the author

Hallie prefers steamy, insta-love stories where the curvy girl finds love with a filthy-talking hero. And when she ran out of reading material, she decided to write her own stories. If you want a quick, hot read, she's your girl!

Instagram: @authorhalliebennett
TikTok: @authorhalliebennett
Facebook: @authorhalliebennett

Reviews

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Wild Hearts Suitor's Crossing: Hearts Collide. Wes is single and going to stay that way forever, his parent’s marriage was enough to scar him. Grace is new in Suitor’s Crossing and meets Wes when her car beaks down. He’s hot and then cold, she doesn’t know what to think. Throw in the mean girls in town and her feelings are all over the place. She has her own trauma from the past and she tells Wes they need to figure things out. Will he run away from her or embrace their new feelings. I loved the storyline and the characters. Very real feelings in this story. I would definitely recommend this book and the series.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[casvec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace was moving across the country in hopes of a fresh start, when her car blows a tire. When she gets to the auto shop, Wes was not what she was expecting.

Wes took over the garage, when Grace walked in, he realizes she is full of sunshine to his rain.

Grace and Wes's story is a fast read that takes you on a sweet ride with a few unexpected turns.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vedece Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grace is looking for a new beginning and what better place than Suitor's Crossing? After a flat tire leaves her and her dog hiking the last stretch into town, she's still determined that her life is looking up. No more "mousy girl pushover".
Wes isn't looking for anything or anyone permanent. All his life he's been labeled as the town bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Let them think what they want, he knows the truth, about all of them. He just wants to run his business.
When Grace walks into his shop, not only does he find her very attractive, he instantly feels very protective of her.
Soon they find out that they have more in common than anyone would have thought. Proving once again, you can't judge a book by its cover. When it comes to her, he's a protective cinnamon-roll and she's nervous at first but comes to truly appreciate his encouragement.
Can the mouse and the bad boy really be drawn to each other? When the "heart spark" has its sights on you, there's no escape.
I wish it would have been longer to give us a bigger peek into their past, especially hers because it pointed at her having had some kind of trauma/drama she was leaving behind from growing up but, I still liked it.
I'm crazy about this small town.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart sparks strike again. 

Grace Thompson has moved to Suitor's Crossing to get away from her family. She has two friends there that she planned to room with, but one met her heart spark and left with her boyfriend. Her friend Avery even found her a job as a paralegal with Casey & Sons. 

On her way into town, she has a tire blow. She and her former military dog, Shadow, start to walk into town. Her phone indicates there's a garage only about a mile away. She's from Kansas, so the forest of trees surrounding her that first seemed welcoming now seems like it could be the beginning of a horror story. 

Wes Gallagher is a rough-around-the-edges sort of guy with a heart of gold. He's never claimed to be an angel. The rumor is that he's been to prison. In fact, the sheriff did lock him up overnight for underage drinking. Most townspeople knew the truth, but the small town rumor sounds more exciting. He does know he never wants to find his heart spark. His parents had an unhappy marriage. She married down when she married a trucker. When she left, she also left Wes behind. 

She wants to find someone who can love her as she is, not someone to remold her. He didn't want to find love, but it found him, and he can't say, "No."

I received an ARC of this book from the author via Booksprout. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Grace, the female lead, finds her car dying on the edge of town, she walks, fortunately finding the local mechanic, Wes, the male lead, in his shop and able to tow her car and fix it for her. Whilst the attraction is real and immediate, both of them are far too awkward to have a successful first interaction!

When Grace’s coworkers tell her that Wes is a bad choice, she’s not sure how to react. He’s always willing to help her. Then she realises they’re prejudiced and would probably feel the same way about her if they were aware of her background. Now she just needs to see if she has the courage to start something serious with Wes. And he has to realise that he has value is and worthy of being in a relationship too…

This short story is dual POV, well written, and in the author’s sweet and steamy, contemporary, small town style romance. I enjoyed Grace’s emergence from her awkward shell. I enjoyed Wes’ improving self-confidence. I enjoyed that they helped each other be more. I enjoyed the steamy intimate scenes and the sweet ending.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Patti Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grace was getting out of home for whatever reason and found a home in Suitor's Crossing with her friends who also got her a job. Almost to town her tire blew and her and her dog walked the rest of the way till the got to Dusty's garage. That is where she met Wes the owner of the garage. He offered to help. After getting her car fixed, he wanted to know more about Grace and her dog Shawdow. He let her leave but ran into her in town. Wes was grumpy but he still wanted to get to know Graces story.
Grace and Wes had alot more in common then they thought. Wes took the bull by the horns and kissed Grace and that one kiee was it for both of them. The more they hung out or even saw each other the more they wanted to be with each other. Grace had learned from Wes that he was a bad boy but it was in his past but people wouldn't let the past go and he took it to heart. That was until one day he stood up for himself and took baxcj his life just as he saw Grace did. She didn't let her past define her and he wasn't either. They both are now free to live their lives to the fullest no holding back.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lynn Sell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story set in the small town where “heart sparks” exist! This is Wes and Grace’s story. They meet when Grace’s car has a flat tire on her way into town and she walks to the nearest garage. Wes is the owner of Dusty’s garage and feels an instant attraction and need to protect Grace upon meeting her. Wes comes from the “wrong side of the tracks”, doesn’t believe in love or relationships after seeing his parents fail, and has worked hard to get where he is and feels he isn’t good enough for Grace but has difficulty fighting his attraction. Grace had moved to town to start a new life near her friends and to get away from her family problems. They keep meeting throughout the town as Wes tries to fight his attraction to Grace. When Grace comes down with a stomach bug, Wes is the one to take care of her. This is a short, instalove, curvy girl, alpha male romance you won’t want to put down. Great characters and story.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Laura Moylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace Thompson was trying to get to her friend Elsie’s apartment in Suitor’s Crossing. However, her tire blew when she was almost there and was stranded on the side of the road. So she looked up to see if there was any place she could call for a tow and found that Dusty’s was about a mile away. So she and her dog, Shadow, headed out. Suitor’s Crossing was a new beginning for her. Another of her friends, is Avery, who told her that Suitor’s Crossing was known for bringing couples together- heart sparks. I found her antics with Shadow comforting because I did that with my dogs throughout the years growing up. Shadow had been military trained so she had commands, etc. and training to care for him. Wes, now owned Dusty’s and he is an absolute hottie. He is surprised that he is so protective of someone he just met. Elsie and Avery had helped Grace to get a job at Casey & Sons. This is a problem because the Caseys and Wes Gallagher do not get along. OMG. Nope. They don’t. Sheesh. I found the interaction between Grace and Wes to be fascinating and steamy. Social politics happen in this book. UGH. I hate that stuff, but it did make for a really interesting book. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sharon McMaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild Hearts was a quick read with some fantastic characters and storyline. When town newbie Grace who is trying to start over needs help after her car breaks down, she grabs up her military dog Shadow and decides to hike the rest of the way in. Going into the local garage she meets Wes, but she is not sure what to think as there is some instant attraction there and she has always been the quiet/mouse type. Wes also feels that instant attraction but has always sworn that he wouldn’t fall in love or get involved with anyone after seeing his parents relationship fail but he feels a protectiveness towards Grace that Wes wasn’t expecting. You have your small town mean girls/busy-bodies that try to warn Grace that Wes comes from the “wrong side of the tracks” and is a bad boy but they don’t know Grace’s background. The two run into each other around town and realize that they have a lot in common. I enjoyed watching them both realize they were worthy of the other but also loved seeing Grace and Wes mature a little more with become more self confident.

[Reader_for_LifeTLG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't judge a book by its cover. - This is my introduction to the author and I was not disappointed. Wes and Grace have instant chemistry, but he looks like every parent's worst nightmare and she seems too sweet for him, a nervous little thing. He might have helped her when she needed it, but he's no knight in shining armor. Tarnished maybe, given his upbringing that no one lets him forget. As they run into each other around town, he can't help but be taken in by her sweet nature. She will be his, even if he never wanted to be in a relationship.

Wes is so good with Grace, a gentleman despite his rough appearance and friends. And I love that he has hidden depths he shares with her, an affront to the rumors attached to his name. A slow burn to passion but the heat is off the charts once Wes and Grace get together. A great read from beginning to end and I will definitely be visiting Suitor's Crossing again.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[kymagirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grace (h) moves to Suitor's Crossing for a fresh start, hoping to leave behind her troubled past. Her journey takes an unexpected turn when she meets Wes (H), a rugged mechanic with a reputation. Despite his rough exterior and the town's whispers, Grace is drawn to Wes's kindness and protective nature. As they navigate their growing feelings, Grace discovers that Suitor's Crossing is more than just a charming town—it's a place where love and second chances flourish. Together, they confront their fears and insecurities, discovering that love can be both wild and freeing. From intimate mornings to passionate encounters, Grace and Wes learn to trust each other and build a relationship that defies their pasts. Hot and steamy instalove, blue collar, curvy girl, small town romance exploring love, courage, and new beginnings.

[Curvy Girl Book Nerd (Jen S) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild Hearts is part of the
Suitor's Crossing: Hearts Collide series. It's a short and steamy, instalove, opposites-attract, grumpy-sunshine, curvy girl gets her mechanic romance. Grace is a young curvy girl who is moving to Suitor's Crossing to get a fresh start. Wes is a hunky, grumpy mechanic with a bad boy reputation. When Grace's car breaks down on the side of the road, she ends up walking to Wes's shop. The Grumpy mechanic is quickly drawn to Grace but feels they are too different to be compatible. Plus, he has sworn off love due to his horrible parents. But the two keep crossing paths, getting close, then pushing away. Can these two fight their fears and let love in? They had great chemistry, and we ended on a happy note. This was a sweet story.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Beverly Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grace and Wes are both trying to shake off their respective pasts. She’s just moved to town for a fresh start. He’s just trying to live his life without the judgment of being raised on the wrong side of the tracks and move beyond the trauma his parents’ marriage caused. He’s a resident bad-boy and she’s a timid introvert trying to break out of her shell. These two seem to keep running into each other and it seems like those heart sparks are at work again. Except Wes has vowed to never fall victim to them or anything resembling a relationship, let alone love. He’s inexplicably drawn to Grace and becomes super protective of her, but his hot/cold behavior is confusing to her. Will heart sparks win out or will Wes’ vow to be single forever cause him to lose out on real love?.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kearsten Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Grace decides to start fresh in Suitors Crossing things start off a bit rough. Her car breaks down a few miles from town and her and her dog have to walk to the garage to get help. Then she meets the grumpy, tattooed shop owner, Wes. He is scowly and gruff but Grace is immediately drawn to him.

Once her car is fixed and she is on the road again Wes expects to never see the curvy gorgeous grace again. She’s to good for him and he knows that the town will try hard to steer her away from him, but they keep running into each other. And the more they know about each other the more they want to be together.

Grace and Wes are probably my favorite Suitors Crossing couple. I loved their story and can’t wait to keep reading this series.

[Lisa Petty (Book Bangers Blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wes may be my favorite in this series at the mechanic in Suitor's Crossing he has done everything he can to make sure those he loves and cares about are taken care of. He's also avoided anything that has to do with the town's heart sparks. But sometimes fate does have his/her sense of humor and when a curvy beautiful woman comes into his shop something happens that he doesn't expect. Grace is so beautiful you can't help but fall in love with her. They both have pasts that have hindered them from looking forward to the future, but when they meet you can feel things happening. These two have a friendship that continues to grow. But can they both have the future that they want without losing themselves in the process?

[Jacquelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Wild Hearts' was fascinating. The interesting plot focused on Grace, a young lady new to Suitor's Crossing who found a job, tried to make friends, and was enamored of Wes, the mechanic who owned Dusty's. Both had baggage in their pasts, yet they tried to be each other's heart spark. They were made for each other. Moreover, I liked the author's vivid descriptions with imagery, figurative language, and compelling word choices such as, "There’s a crack in my chest. A fissure opening beneath the weight of a thousand different emotions. It’s momentous. Terrifying." Overall, I liked the captivating narrative.
I received a copy for free and am voluntarily giving my honest review.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wes and Grace's story was just blah. There wasn't anything particularly wrong with it, it was just so flat and boring, and the two MMCs had the personalities of wet rags with no chemistry. Also, it was full of plot holes, which I understand can happen in a shorter book, but they were such big parts of the plot how can you not give backstory or detail? Why was Grace anxious? What happened in her past to make her this way? What happened to her dog? You cant just leave a german shepherd in your apartment while you spend the weekend at a guy's house and not think "I need to get home and let the dog out".

[Brandi-Lynn Weiser · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked Wes & Grace’s story, but I didn’t love it. There were moments Grace’s reaction to Wes turned me off. She was so anxious all the time & there was no explanation as to why. So I would’ve liked a little more backstory about her. I also would’ve liked to have seen some sort of confrontation between Grace & Kayla. Everything Kayla said about Wes wasn’t true & I think a lot of it came f/him rejecting her- which was another topic that was thrown into the story & never resolved- how Kayla was married, but trying to sleep w/Wes.
Overall, this wasn’t bad, I just would’ve liked to have seen a few things resolved more in the end.

[Aspen G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild Hearts is sweet, slow burn hotness in a charming small town novella. Gracie is clearly a traumatized young woman who needs a clean break to reset. Wes is the town “bad boy” who is driven to be more than what rumors say about him. I love how the author keeps growing these two together in awkward situations and allowing them to work through the experiences at their own pace and timing. It’s interesting to see glimpses of other characters thrown in, and I love how Wes keeps one-upping himself in the unexpectedness department. This is such a sweet and fun read!

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Grinning Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cat’s Stats
MMC/FMC- Wes and Grace
Genre- Contemporary Romance (with mountain man vibes)
Length- 95 pages plus previews
Heat- Slow burn to 🌋🌋🌋🌋🌋. The C word is used.
Series? Y
Safety? Y
Triggers- Language, explicit erotic content, stomach bug issues
Tropes- Damsel in Distress, Good Girl/Bad Boy, Opposites Attract, Small Town
Mewsings
What I liked- The concept of the Heart Sparks is a nifty idea to base a series on. It’s interesting to see how it affects different people. I like that a small-town romance with a sweet premise can be so totally hawt.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shana W · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this sweet low angst story, two lost souls find each other in the small town of Suitor's Crossing. Grace moves there to escape her home life and to be with her two best friends. Wes has never wanted a relationship due to his parents' failed relationship. They both need to overcome their pasts and their feelings of anxiety and inadequacy to grab onto the happiness they can give each other. Although nothing tremendously momentous or exciting happens in the book, I was entertained and the feel-good story left a smile on my face, and I'm all for more smiles in my life.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Danee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Grace and Wes. They meet when you are in her car and there is nothing else to do but walk. She goes out with her dog and asks the nearest garage for help and that is the moment she meets Wes who is not really a ray of sunshine but a grumpy man. Once he helps her, he is afraid not to see her again, because he thinks she is too good for him, but that does not detract from the feelings they have for each other and with every meeting the feelings become more intense and steamy. Will they have a chance to get their Hea together?


I received an Advance Reader sample of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kristina Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace left and came to Suitor’s Crossing for a fresh start. Wes works at a garage and is known as the grumpy man no one cares to really get to know-and he’s okay with that. Grace’s tire blows in her way into town, and when she walks into his garage, Wes isn’t sure what hits him, but he has to get to know this ray of sunshine! Hallie is the master at quick reads that pack all you want in a storyline- chemistry, spice, characters you can relate to, tension, HEA, and some twists along the way. I love the grumpy sunshine combo in this story. This is another Hallie story that leaves me excited for the next one!

[Anni Barkla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this Insta-love story. Grace the curvy FL had serious confidence issues, and Wes the rough around the edges, hunky mechanic and FL were a cute couple. Wes thinking he wasn’t in Graces league, and Grace being unsure about herself made this a really cute story to follow along. I won’t give anything else away except to say, this was an enjoyable short novel, that has a sweet HEA and a lot of feels 🥰. Thank you for allowing me to read your book!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

["They Did What?" · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace has watched her parents live in a loveless marriage, which causes her to become withdrawn and anxious and fear what others will think. Wes watched his mother leave his father because he wasn’t good enough, so he vowed to never care for anyone just so they can break his heart later. But thanks to “heart sparks” and the magic of Suitors Crossing they have found one another and have decided to see if they can live their best lives with each other. A cute short story which is refreshing, that will make you smile and believe in the possibility of HEA.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this story. This is a quick read and it's a feel good story. Wes is a mechanic who meets Grace when she has a flat tire. He automatically thinks she's too good for him but he doesn't know Grace. Grace has some of her own issues but she's doing her best put herself out there, to show the world she's not afraid to live. They are such a great couple but sometimes they let their insecurities get in their way. This is a sweet with some steam story and I loved it.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Beth Booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ Opposites Attract

I love these series of books about the different women who fall for mountain men who are all tough and gentle at the same time. I enjoyed this one, too. The MCs in this story feel a pull toward each other the moment they meet, but insecurities keep them apart. The most spice is toward the end when they both finally get up the courage to tell each other how they feel. We do get a HEA as well as get to see some characters from the other stories.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carmela Dimattia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book three in this series and I loved it. It was great being back in Suitor’s Crossing and getting to know Grace and Wes. An instant attraction that sets the pages on fire as they try to navigate their attraction and mutual feelings for one another. Would also love to read more of Grace’s story to find out why she is shy and hesitant when it comes to meeting new people. Can’t wait to read more in this series.

I received an arc copy via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Donise · Rating 5 out of 5]

She's starting over in the new town where her friends live. It's a little town with a legend involving a bridge and 'heart sparks'. He has no desire to participate in the legend besides who would want a 'reject' like him. Unfortunately, sparks fly when they first meet now the question what are they going to do about them. He may look a little rough around the edges but he has a good heart and she just might be the one to open the lock.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

The romantic story of the role Suitors Crossing’s local bridge plays in the love lives of the town residents in the form of heart sparks leading you to your One is alive and well with the addition of the new girl in town and the local bad boy joining the ranks of those in love in this relatively low heat romance.

There was quite a bit of back and forth going on here but if you like a little bit of angst in your reads, not a lot, just enough to keep it interesting, give this one a try. 4 stars!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.