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Mending Hearts
From the beloved creator of Lonely Hearts Radio and Wild Hearts comes an enchanting new story about love's ability to heal the deepest family divides.
In the picturesque Cornish seaside town of St. Bodwell, the Daveys and the Chenoweths have been entrenched in a bitter feud for centuries. But when local historian Sam Chenoweth begins curating an exhibition on the ill-fated 19th century romance between his ancestor Ada Chenoweth and John Davey, he finds an unexpected ally in Abbie Davey.
As they work together uncovering Ada and John's tragic love story, a surprising connection blossoms between Sam and Abbie. Despite dark family secrets and lies, their growing intimacy has the power to not only bring the exhibition to vivid life, but to finally shatter the cycle of hatred between their families and lay some restless old ghosts to rest at last.
Weaving together a irresistible historical love story and a modern romance, Mending Hearts is an uplifting reminder that even the most tattered bonds can be repaired, one stitch at a time.
In the picturesque Cornish seaside town of St. Bodwell, the Daveys and the Chenoweths have been entrenched in a bitter feud for centuries. But when local historian Sam Chenoweth begins curating an exhibition on the ill-fated 19th century romance between his ancestor Ada Chenoweth and John Davey, he finds an unexpected ally in Abbie Davey.
As they work together uncovering Ada and John's tragic love story, a surprising connection blossoms between Sam and Abbie. Despite dark family secrets and lies, their growing intimacy has the power to not only bring the exhibition to vivid life, but to finally shatter the cycle of hatred between their families and lay some restless old ghosts to rest at last.
Weaving together a irresistible historical love story and a modern romance, Mending Hearts is an uplifting reminder that even the most tattered bonds can be repaired, one stitch at a time.
Audible Audio
Published August 5, 2025
26 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Adeline Knight
4 books34 followersI write audio-only feel good romance fiction, and love to craft stories that will make you smile and remember that humans are loveable (in spite of it all!). My novels explore what it looks and feels like when things actually work out for two people in matters of the heart...not about things falling apart. And I'll always try to sneak an Aussie into the story line :)
LONELY HARTS RADIO is out now and only on Audible. I hope it brings you lots of listening joy!
LONELY HARTS RADIO is out now and only on Audible. I hope it brings you lots of listening joy!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
November 21, 2025
Two Cornish families feuding for two centuries, smugglers, visible mending, enemies-to-lovers trope; all in all this was another hit for me from Adeline Knight. Excellent narration from an ensemble cast of performers.
In the present day, Abbie Davey and Sam Chenoweth have both been drawn back to the Cornish seaside town of St Bodwell where their families have quite a fraught history. Abbie is a textile artist, and apart from working in her dad's repair shop, she is also taking commissions for her very successful visible mending Instagram project. Sam has returned as the newest curator of the local museum of smuggling. For Sam's first exhibition, he's decided to focus on the love story at the heart of the family feud - the jilting of Ada Chenoweth by John Davey 200 years ago. Abbie and Sam know each other from their childhood years. Abbie had a big crush on Sam, although she never acted upon it. Sam was not immune to Abbie's charms, although she never would have guessed. So when Sam discovers Ada's delicate muslin wedding dress, torn through the bodice (not in that way), and takes it to Abbie for repair, they begin to get to know each other as adults and the embers of their old attraction start to rekindle.
A very enjoyable way to while away a few hours. Great atmosphere, likeable main characters and a vivid setting. Currently free on Audible.
In the present day, Abbie Davey and Sam Chenoweth have both been drawn back to the Cornish seaside town of St Bodwell where their families have quite a fraught history. Abbie is a textile artist, and apart from working in her dad's repair shop, she is also taking commissions for her very successful visible mending Instagram project. Sam has returned as the newest curator of the local museum of smuggling. For Sam's first exhibition, he's decided to focus on the love story at the heart of the family feud - the jilting of Ada Chenoweth by John Davey 200 years ago. Abbie and Sam know each other from their childhood years. Abbie had a big crush on Sam, although she never acted upon it. Sam was not immune to Abbie's charms, although she never would have guessed. So when Sam discovers Ada's delicate muslin wedding dress, torn through the bodice (not in that way), and takes it to Abbie for repair, they begin to get to know each other as adults and the embers of their old attraction start to rekindle.
A very enjoyable way to while away a few hours. Great atmosphere, likeable main characters and a vivid setting. Currently free on Audible.
November 24, 2025
It's fast paced, entertaining and goes to the point. I liked it :)
September 25, 2025
Hatfield and McCoy younger loves opens the lies.. a love story.
October 6, 2025
I loved this book. I’m not even sure how I got it, if it was on sale, recommended, or free. I just found it in my library and liked the cover and synopsis. What really made it is the narrators - there are multiples, between the main characters Abbie and Sam. Then there are past love letter narrators. There are a few parts that are a woman on the radio. Then there are some calls to Abbie asking her to mend things. Yes, this is a book about a 200 year feud between two families. Sam is trying to create a museum of their town’s history and you have to include the feud. Abbie’s main focus is on mendable art - fixing fabric in an artistic way with beautiful stitches and colors. I loved hearing about her art and her ideas on how to fix fabrics. I thought this was a beautiful book of two people falling in love while trying to respect their families. It’s about two lost souls, finding themselves and each other. I’m not sure why this book got any negative reviews. I loved it!
September 25, 2025
3,75 stars
At first, I wasn’t sure if I’d even enjoy this book — based on some of the reviews, my expectations were low. But it actually surprised me in a good way. It’s a layered story that draws inspiration from Romeo and Juliet and even gives little nods to Pride & Prejudice, all while weaving in themes of family feuds, hidden letters, and the art of “visible mending” (which I had never heard of before, but now I want to look into more).
What really got me was the story of Ada and John. Their letters carried so much emotion, and when the truth came out—that he hadn’t abandoned her on their wedding day, but actually died at sea while trying to prove himself worthy to her father and risking everything in an attempt to prove himself worthy of her.—it broke me. She spent her life believing the love of her life walked away, when in reality, he never had the chance to come back. That ache stayed with me long after I finished.That part made me tear up and ache for them both.
As for the present-day romance, Sam and Abby were sweet, but I wished for more. Their part of the story didn’t feel quite fleshed out enough, and I was left wanting more scenes, more connection, more closure. Honestly, I really wanted an epilogue to give me more closure.
Another thing I wish the book had explored more was the families’ reaction to the couple ending up together. Since the entire conflict comes from the feud, I wanted to see what happened once Sam and Abby actually chose each other. How did their families deal with it? Did this love finally bring some healing, or did it create more tension? The book ends without really giving us those answers, and I felt like we needed that closure—especially in a story built on generational misunderstandings.
The pacing was a little slow in the beginning, but once it picked up, it became a really engaging read. Overall, Mending Hearts is a touching, bittersweet story with romance, history, art, and generational secrets. I just wish it had gone a bit deeper — especially with Sam and Abby’s story.
At first, I wasn’t sure if I’d even enjoy this book — based on some of the reviews, my expectations were low. But it actually surprised me in a good way. It’s a layered story that draws inspiration from Romeo and Juliet and even gives little nods to Pride & Prejudice, all while weaving in themes of family feuds, hidden letters, and the art of “visible mending” (which I had never heard of before, but now I want to look into more).
What really got me was the story of Ada and John. Their letters carried so much emotion, and when the truth came out—that he hadn’t abandoned her on their wedding day, but actually died at sea while trying to prove himself worthy to her father and risking everything in an attempt to prove himself worthy of her.—it broke me. She spent her life believing the love of her life walked away, when in reality, he never had the chance to come back. That ache stayed with me long after I finished.That part made me tear up and ache for them both.
As for the present-day romance, Sam and Abby were sweet, but I wished for more. Their part of the story didn’t feel quite fleshed out enough, and I was left wanting more scenes, more connection, more closure. Honestly, I really wanted an epilogue to give me more closure.
Another thing I wish the book had explored more was the families’ reaction to the couple ending up together. Since the entire conflict comes from the feud, I wanted to see what happened once Sam and Abby actually chose each other. How did their families deal with it? Did this love finally bring some healing, or did it create more tension? The book ends without really giving us those answers, and I felt like we needed that closure—especially in a story built on generational misunderstandings.
The pacing was a little slow in the beginning, but once it picked up, it became a really engaging read. Overall, Mending Hearts is a touching, bittersweet story with romance, history, art, and generational secrets. I just wish it had gone a bit deeper — especially with Sam and Abby’s story.
August 29, 2025
Abbie and Sam, two old friends with a bit of a history, return to the small Cornwall town where they grew up, each compelled to come home for less-than-ideal reasons. As they rebuild their lives-- Abbie as a textile artist and Sam as a curator in a local history museum-- they hesitantly agree to work together on a project and rebuild a friendship (and more, of course). Oh, and their families are embroiled in a centuries-old feud.
There were some fun themes here-- fiber art and visible mending, snooty art world people, a cast of quirky villagers-- and a unique format featuring local radio clips, voice notes, and historic documents, etc. But for some reason, this one just never took off for me. The characters and setting didn't emerge as memorably as I would have liked, and the inevitable romantic arc lacked complexity (even for a genre known for its predictability!). That said, if you need a cozy British seaside romance with low stakes, this will do it for ya.
There were some fun themes here-- fiber art and visible mending, snooty art world people, a cast of quirky villagers-- and a unique format featuring local radio clips, voice notes, and historic documents, etc. But for some reason, this one just never took off for me. The characters and setting didn't emerge as memorably as I would have liked, and the inevitable romantic arc lacked complexity (even for a genre known for its predictability!). That said, if you need a cozy British seaside romance with low stakes, this will do it for ya.
September 17, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ Review – Mending Hearts
Mending Hearts es como esa obra que Shakespeare nunca escribió: donde la mentira no muere, sino que se hereda. Una mentira que sigue, sigue y se arrastra a través de los años, convirtiéndose en un peso que cada generación carga de manera distinta. Ya no hay tanto enojo, pero sí esa sombra que nunca termina de disiparse.
Lo fascinante es cómo, a pesar de todo, los personajes siguen hablando, siguen conectando, incluso mientras cargan con esa pesadilla heredada. Es un libro que sorprende porque no esperas esa mezcla de drama familiar, secreto persistente y humanidad tan sencilla.
Además, es muy fácil de leer —lo sentí ligero, incluso en medio de tanto trasfondo oscuro— y logra envolverte en esa atmósfera muy inglesa, donde lo cotidiano y lo histórico se entrelazan con naturalidad.
Al final me encantó. No me lo imaginé así y esa sorpresa fue parte del encanto. Le doy 4.5 estrellas ✨ y lo recomiendo sin duda.
Mending Hearts es como esa obra que Shakespeare nunca escribió: donde la mentira no muere, sino que se hereda. Una mentira que sigue, sigue y se arrastra a través de los años, convirtiéndose en un peso que cada generación carga de manera distinta. Ya no hay tanto enojo, pero sí esa sombra que nunca termina de disiparse.
Lo fascinante es cómo, a pesar de todo, los personajes siguen hablando, siguen conectando, incluso mientras cargan con esa pesadilla heredada. Es un libro que sorprende porque no esperas esa mezcla de drama familiar, secreto persistente y humanidad tan sencilla.
Además, es muy fácil de leer —lo sentí ligero, incluso en medio de tanto trasfondo oscuro— y logra envolverte en esa atmósfera muy inglesa, donde lo cotidiano y lo histórico se entrelazan con naturalidad.
Al final me encantó. No me lo imaginé así y esa sorpresa fue parte del encanto. Le doy 4.5 estrellas ✨ y lo recomiendo sin duda.
December 15, 2025
Mending Hearts by Adeline Knight is a gentle, emotionally driven romance that focuses on healing, second chances and the slow rebuilding of trust. The premise is warm and comforting, and there’s a clear emphasis on emotional growth rather than high drama, which I appreciated.
The characters are likeable and well-intentioned, and the author handles themes of loss and recovery with care. I enjoyed the quieter moments and the sense of safety that gradually develops between the main characters. However, the pacing felt uneven at times, and some of the emotional beats were a little predictable, which made parts of the story less engaging than they could have been.
Overall, this is a pleasant and cosy read that will appeal to readers who enjoy soft, healing romances. While it didn’t fully stand out for me, it was still an enjoyable way to spend a few hours.
The characters are likeable and well-intentioned, and the author handles themes of loss and recovery with care. I enjoyed the quieter moments and the sense of safety that gradually develops between the main characters. However, the pacing felt uneven at times, and some of the emotional beats were a little predictable, which made parts of the story less engaging than they could have been.
Overall, this is a pleasant and cosy read that will appeal to readers who enjoy soft, healing romances. While it didn’t fully stand out for me, it was still an enjoyable way to spend a few hours.
September 29, 2025
Such a sweet, cozy Cornish romance. The setting was romantic and times gothic. I loved the main characters and how we got a chance to hear the story from both of their perspectives. It was a layered love story and family drama mixed with humor and some mystery. I really enjoyed the added radio stories and love letters between the chapters. I also learned a lot about visible repair of garments and this slow fashion movement. The characters were intelligent and complicated. The family feuding history was reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, and I liked how Knight ties that in with some theater history between our "fated couple." Great narration as an audio book, and I'd read more from this author.
October 14, 2025
A nice romance story with tied themes to the historical family drama they are investigating in the main plot. It's cute but not life changing.
A few glaringly obvious Aussie phrases jarred me out of the flow of the book at times and I think I heard Newquay mispronounced new-kway but I was driving so couldn't rewind - little things but they niggled.
I'd recommend this as a cost seaside romance. Not explicit.
Enemies/Rivals
Cosy
Seaside/Coastal
Childhood crush
Family feud
Village life
Love Letters
A few glaringly obvious Aussie phrases jarred me out of the flow of the book at times and I think I heard Newquay mispronounced new-kway but I was driving so couldn't rewind - little things but they niggled.
I'd recommend this as a cost seaside romance. Not explicit.
Enemies/Rivals
Cosy
Seaside/Coastal
Childhood crush
Family feud
Village life
Love Letters
December 8, 2025
There were some cute aspects in the book, that’s the only praise that I have. Honestly, there were so many random snippets about mending clothes and local history that just made the story feel bloated. It got so bad that I completely zoned out whenever they talked about that stuff. I’m glad there were many voice actors, because without them, I would be completely lost. In fact, I completely forgot the beginning; the only reason I continued listening was that I wondered how their families would take their inevitable relationship. Though even that was not the most satisfying.
September 30, 2025
I adored this book. An unexpected gem of a book about ancient feuding families in Cornwall. Love lost generations ago has created a feud between the Davies and Chenowith families. The modern descendants want to be loyal to their families but their love for the original lovebirds and the shared museum project conspires to bring our modern heroes together. Abby's visible mending is very interesting to me and is something I will definitely look into. If you're a romance fan, this book has it all.
August 13, 2025
Ok concept but it wasn't terribly engaging. Some of the discussions or comments made by the characters were a bit preachy and trying to be politically correct or making a point. The narrators were ok but the male sounded like he was narrating a children's book and was a bit overly-perky. An easy book to listen to in the background.
September 7, 2025
This story has so many layers! There’s romance, history between feuding families, a tiny mystery unfolding via love letters of a past love story, AND, the artistry of the main characters! Specifically “visible mending”, I’ve never heard of this textile art form and now I want to know more! And then there is the homage to Jane Austen’s pride & prejudice. I love it!
PS it’s free on Audible
PS it’s free on Audible
September 11, 2025
2.25 ⭐️ She was cute, fun and easy to get through. I love a free audible moment so I can’t complain much, even if there wasn’t anything revolutionary or particularly exciting or new with this story. Overall, enjoyable but there’s not much to say and tbh I won’t remember this in a few books time🤷♀️ Such is life ~
September 19, 2025
I don't often leave reviews, but I genuinely enjoyed this audio book. I'm a little bit sad with the overalls reviews from others, but to each their own. For me, without spoiling the book, I lied the history detailed and the intertwined stories. To me, this book gives a sweet, homey feel. I'll be seeking out more books by this author.
December 1, 2025
The idea of the visible mending is so beautiful. Similar to Kintsugi "golden repair" is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with powdered gold.
As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise.
As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise.
February 6, 2026
4.5/5 stars ✨
This is such a cute Romeo and Julietesque story. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, the characters, and the story of these two rival families! There were a couple areas where I felt there could have been more character development or expansion done which is why I didn’t give it 5 stars. However. Super cute read, love the story, would definitely recommend!!!
~xo,
Rach
This is such a cute Romeo and Julietesque story. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, the characters, and the story of these two rival families! There were a couple areas where I felt there could have been more character development or expansion done which is why I didn’t give it 5 stars. However. Super cute read, love the story, would definitely recommend!!!
~xo,
Rach
August 22, 2025
Set on the premise of Romeo and Juliet’s feuding families, Mending Hearts is told from different perspectives and time frames. Generations of misunderstandings along with episodes of simply not communicating finally reach a boiling point in the present and all family secrets are unveiled.
August 26, 2025
An utterly gorgeous story. Beautiful setting, enchanting backstory, loveable characters... I suspect I could listen to this one over and over again (and I would, if I didn't have such a long TBR list!).
August 27, 2025
I don't want to say anything bad about this book because it was a cute love story. However, it was very hard to follow. I got confused who was who. I listened on Audible and I still cant remember half of the book. I had replay parts over and over. Maybe I just wasn't that interested.
September 16, 2025
🎧 cute take that’s obviously inspired by Romeo and Juliet. I was surprised that this book kinda made me cry … the stitch work celebrating what the item has been through and making it more beautiful. Cried a little because hopefully my stitched up stomach can be seen as beautiful someday.
October 1, 2025
Light romance with village of fun characters, local culture and history woven in. A cute enjoyable story that comes together after a slow start. The parts with the local woman doing her radio show were especially fun.
October 10, 2025
Quick read. Cute and entertaining. Modern take on Romeo and Juliet family history. An art curator and seamstress unlock their family’s secrets to try and end the family dues that has been going on for centuries.
Read
October 22, 2025This one didn't work for me, unfortunately. Perhaps setting a family feud in current day just doesn't have the same weight as it would in the 1800s, and I didn't find the museum setting and clothes mending hobby as particularly appealing.
November 4, 2025
3 ⭐️
This was… as calm as cozy (and now key underwhelming) as you imagine it would be. The story is still very sweet and I’m glad I listened to it. It won’t change your life (or maybe it might, who knows?) but it’ll make you feel good.
This was… as calm as cozy (and now key underwhelming) as you imagine it would be. The story is still very sweet and I’m glad I listened to it. It won’t change your life (or maybe it might, who knows?) but it’ll make you feel good.
November 7, 2025
super sweet, love the british narroration!
I wanted more from their romance at the end though. we get her walk of shame from fling guy but a quick kiss only with the MMC??? nawwwwww not cool!
great plot line and premises though!
I wanted more from their romance at the end though. we get her walk of shame from fling guy but a quick kiss only with the MMC??? nawwwwww not cool!
great plot line and premises though!
November 17, 2025
I enjoyed the artistic aspects of this atmospheric romance, particularly the art of sewing and visible mending. The historic aspect also added interest with the historic story within the modern story. It was just a bit too predictable for me.
August 7, 2025
Such a cute lil story & fairly unique too
August 16, 2025
This was a cute clean love story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews