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A Place In Her Heart

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Boston bakery owner and women’s shelter volunteer Katy McShea has traveled far to overcome her traumatic past. But apparently not far enough when Callum Walsh suddenly reenters her life. The handsome Navy SEAL doesn’t have a clue how she felt about him in high school...or what happened after he shipped out.

Five years ago, Cal thought he was doing the right thing. Now Katy—along with her mouth-watering miniature cupcakes—are awakening feelings too irresistible to ignore. All Cal wants is to cherish and protect her. Or will his guilt and Katy’s reluctance to trust keep their chance reunion from becoming a mission possible?

50 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2014

252 people are currently reading
413 people want to read

About the author

Trish Milburn

111 books258 followers
Trish Milburn is the author of more than 50 romance and young adult novels, a huge fan of Asian dramas and K-pop music, prefers Marvel over D.C. (except Wonder Woman is awesome), and loves road trips and visiting national and state parks, and of course is an avid reader with a never-ending to-be-read pile.

Learn more about Trish on her website, www.trishmilburn.com -- where you'll also find links to her social media. She's most active on Twitter @TrishMilburn. Also, her WordoftheK.com is dedicated to her books set in Korea as well as posts about various aspects of the Korean entertainment industry, Korean culture, etc.

Have a question? Be sure to check out the Goodreads option to ask about my books, K-pop, K-dramas, or writing.

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5 stars
193 (30%)
4 stars
186 (29%)
3 stars
181 (29%)
2 stars
49 (7%)
1 star
15 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
Profile Image for Patrice.
995 reviews46 followers
February 17, 2022
This was a quick read, as it is a novella. It deals with an all too common disease in our society ... spousal/child abuse. At first I didn't like the story's main character very much because I didn't feel she was doing enough to protect herself. Then as I read on, it became clear. The main character, Katy, was a neglected child. Her mother, an alcoholic, barely kept them off the streets, when she was sober and her father wasn't in the picture. Enter a nice guy, just finished with basic training in the military, and his attention turns Katy's head and makes her believe in HEA. Fast forward a few years, Katy is now on her own and meets one of her best friends from high school. Katy has always had a crush on Callum "Cal" Walsh. Did her school-girl crush turn into something more? Katy is afraid to trust herself when it comes to men. And she definitely doesn't trust men. Can love prevail? Will Cal see her as more than a friend? Can Katy open her heart and rescue herself?
Profile Image for Kathy Jo.
782 reviews145 followers
March 13, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this short story and definitely wanted more. This would make an AMAZING full length novel! :)
Profile Image for Andy Febrico Bintoro.
3,684 reviews31 followers
June 26, 2019
Another quick read from Harlequin, too quick so the story development seems forced to end quickly and barely goes anywhere.
Profile Image for AnjaliC.
129 reviews1 follower
June 5, 2021
Her Heart Was Bigger Than She Realized

A Place In Her Heart by Trish Milburn is the second book in the Harlequin Special Release Series More Than Words. This series brings attention to the efforts of women who contribute and create opportunities to help others. This story focuses on Boston's Women's Lunch Place www.womenslunchplace.org, a unique day shelter that provides healthy meals, resources, advocacy and essentials to women who are facing homelessness and poverty. Ms. Milburn writes a heart warming and brave story about a protagonist's journey to becoming a survivor.

Bakery Owner, Katy McShea nee Weatherly (div. Miller) has had her share of heartbreaks and challenges. She is jumpy, fearful and stressed, but still hopeful and grateful as to how far she has come. She gives of her time and self to a charity called the "Women's Lunch Place", who helped her get back on her feet. During one of her routine days, she runs into a blast from the past that causes some upheaval in Katy's carefully crafted life.

Navy Seal and Grease Monkey Callum "Cal" Walsh is home on leave and runs into Katy. He is surprised to see the changes in her and tries hard to figure out what has happened to his best friend. As time goes by, we see Cal understand, relate, empathize and become something more to many people.

The story had me in tears in so many places. I enjoyed the details and the struggles that people overcome to get better. It was lovely to see hard work and perseverance triumph over uncertainty. The support and the services provided by the staff is also worth a read. In such a short book, there was so much occurring and it kept me entranced.

If you are looking for something soulful and that makes a difference to so many with a touch of second chance romance, you will adore this book!
Profile Image for Isabell.
244 reviews72 followers
February 7, 2016
I downloaded A Place in her Heart while it was free on Amazon. It was a while back since I downloaded this story so I couldn’t quite remember what it was about. I jumped into the cold water which was probably not the best idea because I expected something different of this novella. I was hoping for something light hearted, romantic and sweet. Sadly, it was none of those.

This novella is about Katy, a Boston bakery owner and women's shelter volunteer at Women’s Lunch Place. When Katy's car broke down, she has an unexpected meeting with her past. The tow truck driver turned out to be Callum Walsh, her close friend from High School. They lost touch when Callum joined the Seal Navy. Kate is taken by such a surprise seeing him. Why is he here in Boston and not in the Navy? While they’re catching up Cal finds out Katy got married to Terry, even though she was in love with him all those years but she was never brave enough to tell him. Now things could never be the same. Too much had changed. Callum had been the one who introduced Katy to the monster who’d launched her into the worst year of her life. And now Callum is trying to make it up for it.

A Place in her Heart is a very serious story about how an abused woman is trying to deal with her traumatic past. I felt very sorry for Kate and what happened to her. Abuse is a tough subject to write about and I respect how the author dealt with it. The story did not work for me. It was too short to develop any connection or feelings for the characters and everything was wrapped up too quickly. Although the story has good potential for a full length novel. This novella might touch many hearts but not mine. That’s why I can’t rate it more than two stars.
Profile Image for Tiffany Willams.
583 reviews32 followers
December 29, 2015
"She spent too many years loving him and not having the courage to tell him as much."

I love second chance romances!

Katy has always loved Cal, but the timing was never right. After Cal left for training with the Navy SEALS, Katy's life was never the same.

This short story showed so much emotion from a woman who had gone through horrible situations, and pulled herself out!

"Why are you here?"
"To solve a mystery."
"Of?"
"Why Katy McShea is so different than the Katy Weatherly I knew."

Such a great story of moving forward, forgiveness, and learning to love again!

Profile Image for Stefanie.
915 reviews47 followers
November 29, 2014
I loved the premise and plot of this book but I didn't really connect with the characters nor did I feel their connection. I felt the author just skims over Katy's abuse, so you really don't feel connected to her as a character.
Profile Image for Amanda Elaine Jackson.
2 reviews
December 2, 2014
Too short.

I thought the stories would be longer, and possibly more of them. Just as you are getting into the story they are over.
Profile Image for Laurene Allibert.
590 reviews1 follower
April 9, 2024
We are following the story of Katy who happened to met one of her old friend from school whom she had a crush on when her car broke down. Cal is a member of SEAL and find Katy acting weird the time they meet again, and think that something happened to her. 

A few years back, Cal introduced Katy to Terry another member of the army. 

Katy has started to develop a relationship with him and ended up married and then divorced because Terry was an abuser, he was hitting her.

Cal discover the truth and feel guilty about the situation, he was the reason that Terry entered Katy's life but love starts to bloom.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Shelley.
159 reviews3 followers
October 16, 2019
This was a second chance at love short story, which I found enjoyable.
And wouldn't mind reading more about these characters, Katy and Cal.

While the subject matter isn't light, it is very important.

Originally part of the Harlequin's More Than Words program, which often features real people and charities they've created/support.


661 reviews5 followers
February 12, 2023
Katy and Call

They had been best friends but after he joined the Navy they had lost touch. The friend he brought home after basic started asking her out. She got wrapped up in the attention and married him. The biggest mistake in her life.
Trish Milburn is a wordsmith. I laughed, I cried, I fell I love.
6 reviews
January 19, 2017
Short as nd Sweet

"A Place in Her Heart" is a sweet and tender novella that was to short in my opinion. The traumatic past of one character was told in such a way that the reader understands what they went through without all the harsh details.
Profile Image for Martin Meek.
156 reviews1 follower
September 8, 2021
Inspiring

Well wrote for a short story. Heartwarming and inspiring. Trish Millburn knows how to tell a story. She retells a true story and gets at your heart string. The more then words short stories are worth reading
Profile Image for Jennie Lyne Hiott.
Author 5 books4 followers
November 30, 2017
This is one of those books with a great plot line, but it was lacking in detail. Great for a quick read. Not for anyone looking for a romance to get lost in.
Profile Image for carolyn eplin.
28 reviews
September 6, 2018
Not bad

If I had known this was just a shortened version. If part of the book I would not have bothered to waste my tume.
Author 2 books16 followers
January 5, 2024
Um pequeno romance que nos faz refletir sobre o sofrimento das mulheres que sofrem violência doméstica e como sobrevivem após deixar o seu agressor.
Profile Image for Dee Renee  Chesnut.
1,744 reviews40 followers
November 28, 2024
This is my last e-book I downloaded on Oct 18, 2015, that was in My Digital Library. This story was inspired by the charity Women's Lunch Place. I enjoyed the story and rated the novella 3 stars.
Profile Image for Mujde Oz.
137 reviews
March 15, 2017
I love second chance romances! This is a great story!
Profile Image for Melindeeloo.
3,275 reviews158 followers
November 29, 2014
A sweet HEA for a cupcake baker and her SEAL

This was a cute little romance with a very serious backstory that features a real life charitable organization A Woman's Lunch Place in Boston which provides a "safe day sanctuary and nutritious lunches " for homeless or impoverished women and a little cameo it's Support Coordinator.

The romance is quick and clean and works because of a pre-existing connection between the leads. Leading lady Katy is cautious but strong, having come back from abuse and homelessness to make a successful life for herself. I really liked the SEAL hero Cal, he is a great friend and a even better human being who is inspired to help other women like Katy when he learns of her past.
Profile Image for Jackie.
3,965 reviews128 followers
March 15, 2016
Author Trish Milburn has written an endearing sweet romance that is all the better as it's couple were friends for years before their lives took them in different directions.

Cal is everything romance readers look for in their choice of the hero in fiction and in real life.

Katy is the strong, if a bit damaged, heroine all women aspire to be.

Alone these two are doing okay but together they feel whole for the first time in their lives.

A lovely friends who fall in love story with a strong message of hope at it's core that second chances are available and need to be grabbed onto with both hands.
Profile Image for Kayla.
1,647 reviews1 follower
November 20, 2014
I love Trish Milburn's writing style. The first series I had ever read by her was her White Witch trilogy. I was hooked immediately. Even though Harlequin novels aren't usually my thing, I loved this. Trish handled such a tough subject very well. She did it in a way that was powerful, and didn't make light of the issue. I loved that even after everything she had been through, Katy was still able to over come, and be such an epic woman. I can't wait for Trish Millburn to release more books.
Profile Image for Eileen Carter.
2,111 reviews9 followers
January 19, 2016
Happy endings every time

Running in fear is tiring, and wears a person down, Katy knew. She had been doing it for years, but now all that was about to change. Cal was off for leave and by chance ran into his old high school friend, Katy. Boy she wasn't the same girl he remembered. Would there be sparks, a romance possibly?
Profile Image for Cindy DeLong.
786 reviews5 followers
May 13, 2015
Enjoyable, quick read. This story was interesting, but I felt that some issues weren't resolved. Katy worried, throughout the story, about Cal going away and how she would handle it. In the end, the reader never discovers how Katy handled Cal going out on his next mission.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews

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