These Mending Hearts

by Melody Faith

The war is over, but one battle rages on.

Though relieved by the news of the Yas’Raehen army’s return, Lady Valeri Alcina didn’t expect to be reunited with a ghost from her past.

Lord Vallen Hartwood was ready to enter a time of peace but those hopes were dashed when he saw her.

Reunited after a year-long campaign in Ernesh, Vallen and Valeri struggle to tolerate the presence of one another. Pained and haunted by their past relationship, the two must find a path to civility for the sake of the residents of Castle Frēwin.

When trouble befalls those closest to them, the unlikely pair must uncover the truth behind a devious plot intended to ruin one girl’s reputation and leave a good man’s heart crushed. Vowing to clear the names of the wrongly accused, Valeri and Vallen’s pursuit of justice may provide an opportunity for more than one happily ever after.

162 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 14, 2025

Reviews

[K.J. Haakenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Do you think a heart can be so broken it can’t be fixed?”
“I believe nothing is beyond mending.”

This novella is so sweet and so delightful!! Reading it was like watching the coziest regency spring production of Shakespeare play out in front of my eyes and drinking tea with a friend! There were many times I literally gasped and giggled out loud. Melody Faith’s heart for Jesus is so evident on the page and through her characters. This is a beautiful story of forgiveness, redemption, and love, and I felt encouraged and lifted up through this lovely book.

“Though the Maker’s forgiveness is immediate when we ask for it, we may not always feel it, at least not right away. The best way to combat this is to continually give it over to Him in prayer, and ask for Him to help you to know that you are forgiven. Faith comes first, feelings follow.”

[A.M. Reynwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a truly cute and quirky story with powerful themes of second chances and forgiveness! I enjoyed the nod to Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing—but with a fantasy twist of castles and knights—though I can hardly say that the hurt and heartache these characters wrestled with is ‘nothing’. I shared in their shock at the Plot Twist that turned merrymaking into a murder mystery, and am glad to report that, even for broken, flawed people, happy endings are still possible. . . Even if the route is a bit circuitous.

[S.L. Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet story of second chances and trust! Melody did a wonderful job with every aspect. I haven't read Much Ado About Nothing, but I certainly want to now!

[Elena Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

The literary imagery will lull you into submission until the twists hit you in the face with a door. I thoroughly enjoyed this book so much I forgot it was a retelling. Melody Faith has such a unique way with words that you can get lost in the world building in the most beautiful way and the plot glides back in with such easy transitions!

[Melissa Miyoko · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most heartwarming confessions of love I've ever read!

A delightful novella, These Mending Hearts is Melody Faith's sweet retelling of Shakespeare's beloved comedy Much Ado About Nothing.

With memorable characters and touching scenes, TMH reminds us that though the pains of life are real, the Lord's healing hand can truly mend a broken heart.

If your mood needs a little pick me up, I recommend the lush scenery and whimsical dialogue in TMH. A fun read for any rom-com or Shakespeare lover.

[Klara Łuczka-Hanzalová · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning debut novella inspired by a Shakespearean classic! Melody Faith has beautifully reimagined “Much ado about nothing”, setting the story in a fantasy world that is rooted in Christian values.
The tale is playful and vibrant, while also resonating with deep Christian themes. The central message on forgiveness is heart-warming, pointing to the infinite mercy of Him who is Love itself.
It is a great challenge to develop strong and psychologically convincing characters in such a brief form, but the author has done this masterfully.
I loved the floral references infused into the story. They were a beautiful touch, adding unique style and colour.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I proofread These Mending Hearts for Melody back in early September. And man. This little novella packs a big punch. It was almost like I got slammed by a big heavy door.

These Mending Hearts is a re-telling of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing - BUT DO NOT FRET. You do not need to 1) be a Shakespeare expert or 2) know anything about that play to enjoy this story. You do need to know how to 1) read and 2) cry. Now that that's out of the way:

These Mending Hearts was a laugh-out-loud, gasp-out-loud, and scream-into-the-void (aka Melody's Discord DMs) adventure. It started out so sweet and light despite the tension between Valeri and Vallen, which only brewed into a storm laced with villainous intent from the antagonist....which then led to the part of the book that probably would have made me throw my copy, but I couldn't since it was on my computer, and that would've been disastrous. So, I took to yelling in Melody's DMs before proceeding to the end, only to have all my fears and freaking out tied up into the most kicking-my-feet ending (like, kicking my feet as in OMG OMG OMG YAY OMG). It is a beautiful story that highlights the importance of second chances, heart-to-heart communication, forgiveness, and God's gift of grace. I loved each and every character (except a certain character whose name starts with the fifteenth letter of the alphabet); they were all unique, relatable, and felt like living, breathing people. I was genuinely invested in this book from the first sentence to the final. It was a wonderful, flower-filled, twist-and-turn adventure, and I look forward to more of Melody's work!

[Stephanie Cotta · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Mending Hearts is a charming and heartfelt tale of forgiveness, wit, and second chances. Melody Faith delightfully breathes new life into this romantic and comedic retelling of Shakespeare’s beloved Much Ado About Nothing. With clever banter, emotional depth, and a dash of intrigue, Valeri and Vallen’s story beautifully captures the messy, tender work of mending what once was broken. The language of flowers is beautifully woven into the story, pairing perfectly with the Regency-era setting. Between masquerades and misunderstandings, readers will find themselves smiling, sighing, and rooting for this stubborn couple to set aside their pride and learn to forgive.

A true gem for fans of Shakespearean retellings and second-chance love stories.

[Rachael Ritchey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely reimagined romantic comedy inspired by Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing! With all the whimsical hints at this humorous but heartfelt tale, Melody Faith takes it a step farther in her own solid world and original characters. If you tend to find the old English of the master bard hard to read, then feast your eyes on this sweet, short book that will bring a clever tale of love and trickery to life.

Thank you to the author for allowing me to read an ARC of These Mending Hearts. This review is my own.

[J.T. Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a sweet story.

I gasped. I laughed. And I wanted to smack a few people. This is a wholesome read filled with flowers, romance, intrigue, and redemption.

If you like Shakespeare retellings - and I prefer this version than the original. (Don't come at me. I said what I said.) and if you like romance with redemption, snark, and witty banter then you might like this one.

And the door! IYKYK (#justiceforthedoor)

[Samantha Mendell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic debut novella from Melody Faith! This low fantasy retelling of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing boasts a brilliant blend of sweet romance, witty banter, and heart-mending forgiveness. The regency era-inspired setting was beautifully crafted, and the characters were brimming with heart and humor. I enjoyed every page, and I look forward to reading future stories from Melody.

[C.B. Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Admittedly, my emotions are tempest-tossed, one wave away from making me seasick.”

These Mending Hearts was a delightful, light-hearted, and hilarious novella full of trickery, pining, and second chances. A retelling of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, featuring Valeri and Vallen, two jilted flames who must learn to forgive, relinquish their own egos, and give love another chance. There are plots and ploys, masquerade balls, and all the tea and flower gardens a girl could ask for. Captain Harlowe was also great comedic relief with his mismatched vocabulary. I thoroughly enjoyed this novella and would recommend it to anyone looking for an entertaining story that points the reader to higher ideals.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Empathizing with a Shakespeare comedy

I really appreciate Melody's ability to take a work for the stage and pull us into the minds of the characters. This book preserved the feel of a Shakespeare play but had me empathizing with the details of the characters' experiences. The scope seemed just big enough and seeing it through the lens of the two main characters helped ground me in a story I tend to get lost trying to understand.

And the theme, and the title, and the experiences of mending hearts‐-beautiful! I needed this. Thank you, Melody, for sharing this wonderful piece of your heart. I'm so glad things looped back around to allow you to take a broken circumstance and make something wonderful from it!

[Nathan Keys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melody's debut fantasy novel is masterfully woven with charm, wit, and spirited hope. Whether you are familiar with Shakespeare's "Much Ado about Nothing" or not, this story is guaranteed to keep you on your toes with its twisting yet entertaining relational drama. Shoutout to the boys - Vallen, Evander, and Jonatas - for being real ones who strive to do the right thing as far as it depends on them.

Delivering timeless themes of restoration and reconciliation, These Mending Hearts will inspire and encourage you to believe that, indeed, there is nothing beyond mending.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an E-ARC of this book to review.

These Mending Hearts is a wonderful debut from author Melody Faith! When I saw that this book was based on Much Ado About Nothing (my favorite Shakespeare play), I knew I had to read it. And I'm glad I did.

This book is not perfect. When we finally get down to why Valeri and Vallen are mad at each other, it feels somewhat anticlimactic. And some of the language choices feel a little too modern. Honestly, I wanted this book to be a little longer to flesh out the setting and characters a bit more. But overall, I think Melody stays true to and captures the spirit of Much Ado. I did love the characters, and I found Valeri and Vallen's relationship development to be lovely and sweet. The themes of forgiveness and second chances were well developed for the length of the book.

I highly recommend checking out These Mending Hearts! You'll be treated to a sweet retelling of a much-loved story.

[Carlee Nichole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely enjoyed getting to know Valerie and Vallen! Seeing their interactions and how things progressed! I loved how the language of flowers was used in this story. This was a awesome debut novella and I can't wait for another book by this author!

[Heather Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

These Mending Hearts is a sweet, quick read that has so many beautiful themes: friendship, second chances, forgiveness, and more! If you’re familiar with Shakespeare, it’s also fun finding Melody’s moments of inspiration that came from Much Ado About Nothing. I recommend adding it to your TBR!

[Abigail Hawthorne]

Not my cup of tea, but a sweet novella!