Always in My Heart

Harts in Love #1

by Kayla Perrin

Home is where her heart is... The oldest of three adopted daughters, Callie Hart has always lo ved being the protector of the fa mily. But now she is all grown up—with a young son of her own to protect. Callie can’t wait to show him off when s he reunites with her two sisters in Ohio. But that also means coming face to face with the lover she left behind. Nigel Williams is even more irresistibly attractive than ever. But what will he do when he learns about the secret she kept hidden from him for ten years? Nigel has never forgiven Callie for fleeing Ohio—and the passion they shared. And when she shows up on his doorstep asking for forgiveness, the Cleveland cop is furious at her deception. But how can he deny the feelings Callie reawakens in him? Blindsided once again by the heat of desire, Nigel vows to fight for his future with the woman he has always loved. Three Harts. Three Loves. The Reunion of a Lifetime.

Genres: Romance, African American Romance

Kindle Edition

First published April 17, 2012

Reviews

[willaful · Rating 3 out of 5]

An accident (or was it?) has left Callie more conscious of the fact that her son has only one parent, and coming home for her aunt's funeral is the perfect time to finally tell her ex that he has a child. Nigel is the perfect dad and the reasons they broke up don't seem very important anymore... but can Nigel ever forgive her for running away and lying to him?

If I were rating solely on the writing, I’d give this 2 1/2 stars. The style is bland and there’s a lot of grating repetition; when every character uses the same phrase to describe a situation (“couldn’t be faithtful” is said about an offscreen character three times) it doesn’t feel real to me.

I’m rating it up a bit because I found the portrayal of Nigel so appealing. He’s very vulnerable, having loved Callie devotedly and been deeply wounded by her. Unlike many romance heroes, his pain doesn’t cause him to act out in hyper-masculinized ways; he’s a family man at heart and is still hoping to find the right woman to settle down with. Although he’s wary of Callie, fearful she’ll run away from him again, he embraces his newfound son with complete commitment.

There's a little running mystery about Callie's mom that will presumably be explored more in the rest of the series.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good story. Great start to the series. Loved the romance between Nigel and Callie. Can't wait to read the other two.

[Whit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story but Callie became annoying after awhile. She returned home 10 years after she left, to attend her beloved aunt's Home-Going-Service. But her unresolved issues went a little deeper than an abandoned mother and relationship mistrust. If family was so important to her, why did she cut them off for so long? Callie deceived Nigel, the love of her life, in the worst way, yet expected him to not only forgive her but to express his undying love for her. Girl, get a grip!!!

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

The three Hart sisters have been estranged for years because of an argument between Natalie and Deanna (oldest sister Callie didn't want to choose sides). When their Aunt Jeannie, who raised them after their mother dropped them off and disappeared, dies, they reunite in Ohio for her funeral. Dealing with the death of someone so dear to them forces the sisters to confront what has kept them apart and that includes the secret that Callie, who years ago ran away to live in Florida, has kept from everyone. Losing her beloved aunt and almost losing her life in a car accident convinces Callie that she must come clean with her childhood sweetheart and let him know that he is the father to her nine-year-old son Kwame. Detective Nigel Williams is stunned to learn that he is a father and works to put aside his anger at Callie for disappearing 10 years ago and keeping his son away. He and Callie are also stunned that they still have feelings for each other, but all the secrets may just be to much to overcome.

This is the beginning of a series telling the stories of the Hart series and Always in My Heart is a strong start. The hints at the disagreement between Natalie and Deanna will be interesting to read about in future books as well as the unfolding mystery behind their mother's abandonment.

[Lady Raven RAVE! · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://www.romancenoveljunkies.com

3.5 stars

BRIEF SUMMARY

After almost ten years, Callie has return home with her son to attend a funeral and to connect with family and friends, in particular, Nigel, her ex boyfriend that she left behind so long agao. Now that she has seen him she has a secret to tell him.

THOUGHTS
This was a sweet story about reunited love. Although I found it to be sweet, I thought it was ok. The flow of the story and the storyline between Nigel and Callie had simplicity to it that my excitement remained at the same level throughout.

What I like is that the author gave us four different story lines / plot taking place that revolves around Callie and her family. The mystery of Callie's mother, her sisters Natalie and Deanna, her friend Tamara and Callie's relationship with Nigel. Although there are four different issues going on it blend together but not all was resolved as there will be a continuation with Natalie and Deanna's story in the upcoming books.

Nigel was a good guy who's a detective and now that Callie is back and with her son, old wounds start to reopen. This leaves the couple with a hesitant back and forth relationship.

Overall, a nice story with lovable characters, but I found the pace of the story ok.

Length: 2436 kindle
Storyline: GOOD
Enjoyment: FAIRLY GOOD
Intimacy Level: GOOD

[Tia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had quite a bit going on in it. A missing mom, abandoned kids, sibling rivalry, aunt's funeral, stalker husband, car accident, long lost love and a runaway pregnant young woman. It was an interesting read. Although, I wasn't impressed and the storyline didn't pull me in. The pacing was okay but with so much going on I felt like I never got into the meat and potatoes of the story. The romance revolves around Callie and Nigel. They were once mad about one another but are now coming together for the sake of their son. The feelings are there and are stronger than ever but Nigel isn't eager to acknowledge them because of Callie's desertion years before. Callie has many unresolved issues of her own with the first being the abandonment by her mother of her and her two sisters.

Always in My Heart is part of "The Harts in Love" series. And perhaps because of this, the story ended incomplete without the reader knowing what has happened to Callie's mother and the reasons behind why she left the girls with her sister Jean all those years ago. I was a bit disappointed by this. All in all it was a good story and I enjoyed watching Nigel and Kwame bond as father and son and both of them delighting in it.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Harlequin (Kimani Romance) for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute contemp love story!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kayla Perrin always give you good love stories. This one was a little different in the since of the character finding out about the secret on his own, but was told up front. I really liked that.

[Charelle Shipman-Edmondson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was IDK, Kinda MEH to me. I understand the premise behind it, but both main characters kind of got on my nerve. This was a re-read for me, BUT however I hardly remembered it while I was reading it. I pulled it out one day while re-arranging my books on my shelf, and then when I saw it was a series, I searched for the other title on good reads.....I realized that I had indeed purchased all four, SO evidently I liked it/them the 1st go around. I came to record this re-reading BUT for the 1st time on Goodreads.
I will continue re-reading the rest of the series, because I truly hope that the others will be better.

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm

A major part of this story is that Callie and Nigel dated when they were younger, but Callie got pregnant and took off without telling Nigel about the pregnancy. She hid it for 10 years. I just can't imagine the Callie who still wasn't over her mother abandoning her would keep a child from their father. She never told her son, even when he asked about his father. That bothered me for the entire book.

[Sassafrass · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. I was annoyed with Callie. She had nine years to make her mistake right. I get that it was hard but I wish she had done it sooner. I loved that she and Nigel were able to make it right. And Kwame was so cute! I'm looking forward to continuing the series.

[W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Reading

Will love for when there are so many secrets from the past entangling our present? Interesting read to get the answers to freedom.

[Ranie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful written, enjoyable, suspenseful and quick love story....high recommended!

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS
You never know what a person is feeling or why they do something without asking and being honest yourself.
I liked Always in My Heart the first book about 3 sisters who have been away from each other over 8 years ago.
A lot of the Hart Sister's problems are thier mom dropped them at her sister's and told them she would be back soon. So
far they have not heard from her since she abandon them.
Callie Hart has just arrived to her Aunt's funeral she has not been back for over 8 years, She only saw her Aunt & Uncle
when they came to visit her in Florida. Now it was too late see the women who raised her and her sisters.
She has not seen her sisters either. Callie was the oldest and when her sisters were feuding she was in the middle and
they were making her choose. At the time she was having problems with her boyfriend and she was pregnant and did not tell anyone
for awhile.
This past week Callie and her son were in a car wreck after being forced off the road. Callie knew the time to tell
her son's Kwame father about his son.
Detective Nigel Williams was surprised when his old girl friend appeared on his door step. He had loved Callie and was hurt
when she ran away. He did not want to let her back into his life but finally invited her into say her piece. Never expecting
she would tell him that he was a father of a nine year old boy. Nigel wanted to get to know his son.
Callie is glad that Nigel and Kwame can start building a relationship and accepting each other.
Nigel wanted to be a good father but he was so hurt and mad that she kept his son away for 9 years.
Thier are a lot of drama going on with Callie reconnecting with everyone. Her sisters and thier fight. Her Aunt's death and
finding out thier mom might have left them for a good reason.
Thier are a few sex scenes in the book that I skipped over. Did enjoy the book and can not wait for the third sisters story and
hopefully they can learn more about thier mom.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review from Netgalley.
05/01/2012 PUB Harlequin Kimani Romance

[Barb · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Always in My Heart” by Kayla Perrin was not my first choice of a great book. Sisters Callie, with son Kwame in tow, Natalie and Deanna are together in their hometown of Cleveland after a long estrangement for the funeral of their aunt who acted as their surrogate mother when their own mother abandoned them. No one knew about 9 year old Kwame because Callie left town when she learned that she was pregnant. In the ensuing years, she made a new life for herself and her son. Kwame’s father Nigel, did not know he had a son. Callie’s intention was to remedy this situation and give Kwame and Nigel a chance to get to know each other. She wasn’t sure how the situation would resolve itself because after seeing Nigel again, Callie knew she was still in love with him. However, Nigel couldn’t get past the idea that Callie left him and didn’t tell him about their son. This story had a lot of back-and-forth. I really got tired of the whole thing and also the dialogue. It was evident that they would finally get back together, but there was so much resistance on both parts that I didn’t have any sympathy for either one. I would probably give the book two stars on a five star rating system. Just the fact that I finished it rates it that high.

You can find this review at:
http://imhookedonbooks.wordpress.com/...

[JoAnn Litman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

I really enjoyed this love story of love lost. It makes you want to believe in second chases.
It also reminds us that we can't save everyone. Great book

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. I like how it got down to the big storyline surprise with Callie & Nigel right away and didn't wait 10 or 15 chapters to do so. It really kept me interested, and not reading chapter after chapter waiting for the big reveal. Nigel was a strong character. He had every reason to be royally pissed about his situation, but he really kept it all together and showed himself to be a remarkable man. Callie, her whole angle was a bit weird and I really didn't understand the whole reason she ran in the first place, it didn't make much sense to me. Overall an enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to reading about Callie's sisters.

[Melody Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Oh I wish I had more hours in the day to really read more. It takes me a really long time to get through a book now. I've totally turned into an audiobook book fanatic. Too bad this title isn't on audio and available in my library. I know shame on me for not reading in print book more often. It's just not enough hours in a day and with the audio format I can read and work too it's a really pleasurable experience too like seeing a movie without the visuals and you can see the movie in your head like with a book. My guilty pleasure Audiobooks now. Still in all I will continue to read books but at a slower pace.

[Dafort · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always in My Heart is the first installment to Kayla Perrin's Heart series and it was a good read. Nigel and Callie were college sweethearts that a disagreement led to Callie leaving and keeping a secret from Nigel. It takes a life altering event and a funeral for Callie to realize she must reveal her secret to family and Nigel. Callie is reunited with her sisters and must try to make amends with the man she loves.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 out of 5. A compelling romance that deals with the inner struggles of three sisters to find their way back to one another after over a decade of estrangement, while two former lovers must deal with the needs of their son, a youngster who has formerly been unknown to his father and a kid who really is smart and open about his needing the connection his father provides. It's a really entertaining book and one that lovers of romance, especially interracial romance should read.

[Teaguem2005 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really think its me and not the book but this book bored me to pieces! The "thing" that broke them up 10 years ago was so stupid I just c care. Callie was not deep enough for me.

Inside of 10 minutes I already knew the nature of the secret Callie held. Predictable. How she expected Nigel to move past what she'd done was too much. Did not enjoy this story and am not intrigued enough by her aunt's note to care about the mother who abandoned her.

[Reshemah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good start to the series. This book really draws you in to the drama that you know is going to unfold in the rest of the series. I like how it was more going on in the book besides the Hero and Heroine's problem. I look forward to reading about the other two sisters and I want a book about Tamara and one about Marshal.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book. I loved Nigel's strength even though Callie did him extremely wrong. The reason for Callie's disappearance did not seem strong enough for her actions to me. But in all, I think Nigel was the character that carried the book.

[Teri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad but I had a difficult time believing that none of her family would ask her questions concerning her son and her not returning home for 10 years.I could actually believe her son not asking questions considering I have experienced what her son went through.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just Okay

I like Kayla Perrin books but this one did not move me. There were too many unnecessary repetitive words. I zoomed through a lot of the pages when it just seemed to keep going on about nothing. I liked the story line so for that reason I gave it 3 stars.

[Ariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was okay, but lets talk about what a awful friend Callie's best friend is. I would've been cut that bitch loose. I go out of my way to help you and your husband attacks me twice! and then you still go back to him, wtf?!?!

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: Harts in Love

[Marilyn Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a great romance book when the twists and turns come together.. Excellent I can't wait to find out more information regarding their mother.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Enjoyed the characters Nigel and Callie and the way their storyline was developed.

[ConSonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the storyline all the emotions flowing thru the book seemed real u also felt it.