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Hidden Hearts
There are worse things in life than being the CEO of the largest and oldest whiskey distillery in South Carolina and the self-proclaimed patriarch of my family. I can’t complain, even if my personal life has taken what seems to be a permanent backseat over the last two years.
I have my mom and brothers to look out for, a business to run, and a legacy to uphold. With the responsibility I shoulder, I don’t have the capacity for much else in my life.
Enter Lila Avondale, my new—and extremely reluctant—business partner. She’s gorgeous, witty, obstinate, and everything I never knew I wanted.
Something about Lila’s frosty charisma has me completely captivated, but she doesn’t trust my family or me as far as she can throw us.
I’m making it my mission to knock down her well-constructed walls and get to know the real her, the one she keeps hidden away. But a series of unfortunate mishaps and an unsuspecting grudge could wreck any chance I have at making that happen.
Will I break through and form a connection that could change everything for us both, or will she always keep her heart hidden from me?
I have my mom and brothers to look out for, a business to run, and a legacy to uphold. With the responsibility I shoulder, I don’t have the capacity for much else in my life.
Enter Lila Avondale, my new—and extremely reluctant—business partner. She’s gorgeous, witty, obstinate, and everything I never knew I wanted.
Something about Lila’s frosty charisma has me completely captivated, but she doesn’t trust my family or me as far as she can throw us.
I’m making it my mission to knock down her well-constructed walls and get to know the real her, the one she keeps hidden away. But a series of unfortunate mishaps and an unsuspecting grudge could wreck any chance I have at making that happen.
Will I break through and form a connection that could change everything for us both, or will she always keep her heart hidden from me?
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 9, 2026
About the author
Ani Thomas
4 books50 followersAni is a romance enthusiast fueled by coffee and endless daydreams. She writes heartfelt stories that incorporate angst, humor, and open-door spice with endearing characters and happily ever afters. Born and raised in Upstate New York, she now lives in the South with her husband, three children, and their dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
July 9, 2026
4.25 stars.
Ani Thomas's "Hidden Hearts" is a small-town, forced proximity, black cat x golden retriever romance between Lila (FMC) and Corbin (MMC), who have recently become business partners. Much to her surprise and chagrin, Lila's father went behind her back to sell their family's whiskey distillery to Corbin, who also owns his own quite successful whiskey distillery. The two of them do not get off on the right foot. Lila is endlessly skeptical of Corbin. In such a male-dominated field, she quickly learned that men would always underestimate, undermine, and question her and her position. Corbin, however, surprises her at every turn, taking her thoughts, questions, and ideas into consideration in a true show of collaboration and cohesion of their brands. Instead of telling her why she's wrong, he shows her kindness and empathy and understanding. He shows her why she can trust her with her family's legacy... and her heart! Corbin is so clearly gone for her from the first black cat interaction she gives him. Because of the nature of their clashing demeanors, there is a ton of tension between them, which makes for some top-tier yearning later in the book! As Lila's walls slowly come down around Corbin, her inner gooey heart begins to show around him while softening her outward hard shell. The spicy scenes between them are well-written and well-earned. The one-bed trope is implemented here with pitch-perfect precision. I squealed! There is a suspense element to the story as well, and while I enjoyed it, I did find it fairly predictable. I am so stoked to see what will unfold in the other Blackwood brothers' books!
Thank you to Ani Thomas and House of Hearts Lit. for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Ani Thomas's "Hidden Hearts" is a small-town, forced proximity, black cat x golden retriever romance between Lila (FMC) and Corbin (MMC), who have recently become business partners. Much to her surprise and chagrin, Lila's father went behind her back to sell their family's whiskey distillery to Corbin, who also owns his own quite successful whiskey distillery. The two of them do not get off on the right foot. Lila is endlessly skeptical of Corbin. In such a male-dominated field, she quickly learned that men would always underestimate, undermine, and question her and her position. Corbin, however, surprises her at every turn, taking her thoughts, questions, and ideas into consideration in a true show of collaboration and cohesion of their brands. Instead of telling her why she's wrong, he shows her kindness and empathy and understanding. He shows her why she can trust her with her family's legacy... and her heart! Corbin is so clearly gone for her from the first black cat interaction she gives him. Because of the nature of their clashing demeanors, there is a ton of tension between them, which makes for some top-tier yearning later in the book! As Lila's walls slowly come down around Corbin, her inner gooey heart begins to show around him while softening her outward hard shell. The spicy scenes between them are well-written and well-earned. The one-bed trope is implemented here with pitch-perfect precision. I squealed! There is a suspense element to the story as well, and while I enjoyed it, I did find it fairly predictable. I am so stoked to see what will unfold in the other Blackwood brothers' books!
Thank you to Ani Thomas and House of Hearts Lit. for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
July 23, 2026
5🌟, 2.5🌶️
This absolute masterpiece delivers the most delicious slow burn that completely consumes you from the beginning!
Lila is fiercely independent with walls built a mile high, making her endlessly skeptical when her family distillery is suddenly sold to a painfully successful rival named Corbin. Yet watching Corbin instantly fall head over heels and chip away at her defenses with pure patience, kindness, and unwavering support is the most heartwarming thing ever.
The chemistry between them is off the charts, shifting from wary rivals to an undeniable connection. Corbin brings major golden retriever energy and a delightfully dirty mouth, while Lila's protective black cat attitude makes every ounce of his devotion so rewarding. Their forced proximity moments, especially a pitch-perfect one bed scene and sizzling spice, absolutely delivered. A suspenseful mystery, unexpected plot twists, and a vibrant family dynamic make the entire world feel wonderfully immersive.
I am completely obsessed with this start to a new series because this journey was pure five star perfection. It is a deeply emotional experience complete with characters you will want to hold onto forever. If you love competency clashes, ultimate heart eyes heroes, and a romance that takes its sweet time before going all in, you need this immediately.
I am beyond obsessed with this gem and cannot wait to revisit this incredible world.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Ani Thomas and House of Hearts Lit. for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
This absolute masterpiece delivers the most delicious slow burn that completely consumes you from the beginning!
Lila is fiercely independent with walls built a mile high, making her endlessly skeptical when her family distillery is suddenly sold to a painfully successful rival named Corbin. Yet watching Corbin instantly fall head over heels and chip away at her defenses with pure patience, kindness, and unwavering support is the most heartwarming thing ever.
The chemistry between them is off the charts, shifting from wary rivals to an undeniable connection. Corbin brings major golden retriever energy and a delightfully dirty mouth, while Lila's protective black cat attitude makes every ounce of his devotion so rewarding. Their forced proximity moments, especially a pitch-perfect one bed scene and sizzling spice, absolutely delivered. A suspenseful mystery, unexpected plot twists, and a vibrant family dynamic make the entire world feel wonderfully immersive.
I am completely obsessed with this start to a new series because this journey was pure five star perfection. It is a deeply emotional experience complete with characters you will want to hold onto forever. If you love competency clashes, ultimate heart eyes heroes, and a romance that takes its sweet time before going all in, you need this immediately.
I am beyond obsessed with this gem and cannot wait to revisit this incredible world.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Ani Thomas and House of Hearts Lit. for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
July 18, 2026
“For anyone who’s ever felt like they’ve had to hide pieces of themselves just to exist… don’t ever dull your shine for anyone.” ~ Dedication
——————————————————————————————
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
GUYS. This was my first ever arc read and first ever book by Ani Thomas and I absolutely loved it!🥹 Thank you so much to Ani Thomas and House of Hearts for this gifted copy and I’m so excited to share my personal thoughts on the book with you all!
This was honestly such a book 🥰 It’s the first in the Blackwood Hearts series and is a slow-burn romance set in South Carolina. If you’re looking for a book that you want to slow down with…fall in love with the characters…and just enjoy a wholesome romance…than this is a great option.
The characters were incredibly easy to get attached to, especially to how wholesome Corbin is🥺 There were also a few twists that I genuinely wasn’t expecting that kept me hooked. Corbin and Lila are so cute…but low-key…I can’t wait to see what happens with Levi🤭
Overall, I’m so grateful to Ani Thomas and House of Hearts for trusting me with my very first ARC. It was such a special experience and I can’t wait to see what Ani does with book 2☺️
——————————————————————————————
Tropes:
💙Small Town
🥃Black Cat x Golden Retriever
💙Millionaire MMC
🥃Competitors turned Partners
💙Forced Proximity
🥃One bed
💙He Falls First
🥃Dual POV
——————————————————————————————
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
GUYS. This was my first ever arc read and first ever book by Ani Thomas and I absolutely loved it!🥹 Thank you so much to Ani Thomas and House of Hearts for this gifted copy and I’m so excited to share my personal thoughts on the book with you all!
This was honestly such a book 🥰 It’s the first in the Blackwood Hearts series and is a slow-burn romance set in South Carolina. If you’re looking for a book that you want to slow down with…fall in love with the characters…and just enjoy a wholesome romance…than this is a great option.
The characters were incredibly easy to get attached to, especially to how wholesome Corbin is🥺 There were also a few twists that I genuinely wasn’t expecting that kept me hooked. Corbin and Lila are so cute…but low-key…I can’t wait to see what happens with Levi🤭
Overall, I’m so grateful to Ani Thomas and House of Hearts for trusting me with my very first ARC. It was such a special experience and I can’t wait to see what Ani does with book 2☺️
——————————————————————————————
Tropes:
💙Small Town
🥃Black Cat x Golden Retriever
💙Millionaire MMC
🥃Competitors turned Partners
💙Forced Proximity
🥃One bed
💙He Falls First
🥃Dual POV
July 13, 2026
Thank you to author Ani Thomas and House of Hearts Literary Services for the arc! I have absolutely loved all of Ani’s books I have read and not surprisingly, Hidden Hearts is another beautiful and emotional romance by Ani. I love that the love story between Lila and Corbin evolves a little more slowly than most romances I have read but once they are invested in their relationship, they are both all in. Of course it helped that a little time to themselves with just one bed and forced proximity finally pushed their relationship along. I also really enjoyed Corbin’s family especially his brothers and the found family that Lila finds through Corbin, his brothers and their friends. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!
July 26, 2026
I loved Corbin and Lila so much. These two were so undeniably attracted to one another. The way they were around one another. Talk about sweet. And the way Corbin was right there to lift Lila up, giving her props when she deserved and needed it. These two were the absolute best. The two most deserving and loving people. I adored this story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨BETA & ARC READ✨ ALL THE STARS😍😍😍 Corbin’s newest business venture has put him face to face with Lila Avondale. One stipulation of the agreement between Blackwood and Avondale was for Avondale to remain onboard as the COO. When Lila’s father steps down during the final meeting Lila is stepping in to take his place. Lila has heard many rumors about the Blackwoods and doesn’t care for this deal. Being a woman in this industry is not for the faint of heart but after working with Corbin she’s slowly starting to learn that he may just be the exception and is nothing like the rumors have said. Corbin is instantly taken with Lila but she has walls up a mile high. He wants to break them down and get to know her. The little things he does and the way he includes her in all the business decisions has Lila slowly starting to let him in. But despite how well they’re getting along things something is going on behind the scenes at the company that might just take them down.
Ani truly is one of my all time favorite authors. The way she sucks you into her stories and her worlds has me not wanting to put the book down. I absolutely devoured this one and loved every minute of it. There was such a good mix of heart and excitement in this one!! I thought I knew what was going to go down but definitely didn’t expect the plot twist!! So many good moments throughout this story and I mean c’mon you can’t go wrong with a one bed scene! Lila and Corbin were the perfect mix. The banter at the start and when they finally give in. Corbin is such a green flag and everything he did for Lila just made my heart melt. The Blackwood brothers kept me laughing and I love their family dynamic so much. I cannot wait for the rest of the series!!!
Tropes:
✨Black Cat x Golden Retriever
✨He Falls First
✨One Bed
✨Millionaire MMC
✨Competitors Turned Partners
Ani truly is one of my all time favorite authors. The way she sucks you into her stories and her worlds has me not wanting to put the book down. I absolutely devoured this one and loved every minute of it. There was such a good mix of heart and excitement in this one!! I thought I knew what was going to go down but definitely didn’t expect the plot twist!! So many good moments throughout this story and I mean c’mon you can’t go wrong with a one bed scene! Lila and Corbin were the perfect mix. The banter at the start and when they finally give in. Corbin is such a green flag and everything he did for Lila just made my heart melt. The Blackwood brothers kept me laughing and I love their family dynamic so much. I cannot wait for the rest of the series!!!
Tropes:
✨Black Cat x Golden Retriever
✨He Falls First
✨One Bed
✨Millionaire MMC
✨Competitors Turned Partners
July 8, 2026
Thank you to House of Hearts, Ani Thomas (the author) and the publisher for an ARC of this book!!
Lila and Corbin have lately become business partners, since Corbin's distillery took in Lila's own family distillery. She despises this partnership and does not have good vibes about her new partner. They are forced to work together though and Corbin has put his mind on getting through Lila's walls and get her affection.
The plot of this book is well constructed and it also stars plot-twist and a mystery. It's easy to read, entertaining and the perfect start for a new series since it introduces all the characters and allows you to understand their personality even if not all of them are Corbin and Lila. I like how Lila finds friends and a second family for her, something I felt like she missed and the start of the book.
I absolutely adore Corbin! He's sweet, caring, loving, shows up for Lila and knows how to show his love and affection for her towards gestures and actions not just words which is what I like the most about him. He's not an angry man but he's firm and knows how to act in order to earn other people's respect. Being Lila a woman in a man dominated field, she's struggling with have everyone listen to her ideas (not with Corbin of course) and I always enjoy when real life struggles come in books. She's strong but also delicate which makes the perfect match in a black cat character like she is.
Here’s what you should know:
❤️Small Town
❤️Black Cat x Golden Retriever
❤️Millionaire MMC
❤️Competitors turned Partners
❤️Forced Proximity
❤️One Bed
❤️He Falls First
❤️Two povs, 1st person
❤️Spicy level: 2.5/5
❤️First of a series
⚠️TW: casual alcohol use, and brief mentions of parental death (past/off-page)
Lila and Corbin have lately become business partners, since Corbin's distillery took in Lila's own family distillery. She despises this partnership and does not have good vibes about her new partner. They are forced to work together though and Corbin has put his mind on getting through Lila's walls and get her affection.
The plot of this book is well constructed and it also stars plot-twist and a mystery. It's easy to read, entertaining and the perfect start for a new series since it introduces all the characters and allows you to understand their personality even if not all of them are Corbin and Lila. I like how Lila finds friends and a second family for her, something I felt like she missed and the start of the book.
I absolutely adore Corbin! He's sweet, caring, loving, shows up for Lila and knows how to show his love and affection for her towards gestures and actions not just words which is what I like the most about him. He's not an angry man but he's firm and knows how to act in order to earn other people's respect. Being Lila a woman in a man dominated field, she's struggling with have everyone listen to her ideas (not with Corbin of course) and I always enjoy when real life struggles come in books. She's strong but also delicate which makes the perfect match in a black cat character like she is.
Here’s what you should know:
❤️Small Town
❤️Black Cat x Golden Retriever
❤️Millionaire MMC
❤️Competitors turned Partners
❤️Forced Proximity
❤️One Bed
❤️He Falls First
❤️Two povs, 1st person
❤️Spicy level: 2.5/5
❤️First of a series
⚠️TW: casual alcohol use, and brief mentions of parental death (past/off-page)
July 30, 2026
This was such a fun romance and I completely understand the hype. 🤭 If you love family businesses, tension-filled chemistry, and a hero who is secretly the biggest sweetheart… add this one to your TBR.
Corbin and Lila had me hooked from the start. Two bourbon empire families, forced into a partnership, and two people who couldn’t be more different. Lila is strong, independent, and has built walls around herself, while Corbin is determined to prove there is more to him than what she expected.
And Corbin… 😮💨 The golden retriever energy with the dirty mouth? Absolutely loved him. The way he showed up for Lila through the little things, supported her, and slowly helped her see her own worth was everything. Their chemistry and tension were so good, and the one-bed trope delivered exactly what it needed to. 🤭
I also loved the Blackwell brothers and their dynamic. Every brother brought something different, and I’m already so curious to see where this series goes next.
The romance, suspense, and plot twists kept me turning pages, and that ending definitely caught me off guard. 👀
If you love:
🥃 Small town romance
🤍 Rivals to lovers
✨ Competitors turned partners
🐈⬛ Black cat x golden retriever
🔥 Forced proximity
🛏️ One bed
💕 He falls first
🔎 Romance suspense
you need to add Hidden Hearts to your TBR.
Corbin and Lila had me hooked from the start. Two bourbon empire families, forced into a partnership, and two people who couldn’t be more different. Lila is strong, independent, and has built walls around herself, while Corbin is determined to prove there is more to him than what she expected.
And Corbin… 😮💨 The golden retriever energy with the dirty mouth? Absolutely loved him. The way he showed up for Lila through the little things, supported her, and slowly helped her see her own worth was everything. Their chemistry and tension were so good, and the one-bed trope delivered exactly what it needed to. 🤭
I also loved the Blackwell brothers and their dynamic. Every brother brought something different, and I’m already so curious to see where this series goes next.
The romance, suspense, and plot twists kept me turning pages, and that ending definitely caught me off guard. 👀
If you love:
🥃 Small town romance
🤍 Rivals to lovers
✨ Competitors turned partners
🐈⬛ Black cat x golden retriever
🔥 Forced proximity
🛏️ One bed
💕 He falls first
🔎 Romance suspense
you need to add Hidden Hearts to your TBR.
July 7, 2026
This was giving all the bourbon men series by Victoria Wilder vibes and I was here for it! I loved it! This was my first book by Ani Thomas and I’m a fan. Her writing flowed so well and kept hooked from chapter one.
Corbin is CEO and owner of his families bourbon distillery. Lila is CEO of her families bourbon distillery. When Lila’s father decides to sell it to Corbin, they become partners. Lila is strong and independent with her walls up and Corbin is the man to break them down!
I loved these two together! The chemistry and tension were so dang good. Corbin was that man. He was a golden retriever with a dirty mouth😍😮💨 The one bed moment in this one was lit perfection and so hot! The spice in this was done so well! The added suspense was good even though I did figure out who it was early on. But, that plot twist at the end had my mouth on the floor!😱
I loved all the Blackwell brothers. Their personalities were all so different and fun! I can’t wait to see whose book is next! Thank you to Ani and House of hearts for the advanced copy. This releases on 7/9 def recommend adding to your tbr!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️.5
💙rivals to lovers
💙forced proximity
💙one bed
💙romance suspense
💙black cat x golden retriever
Corbin is CEO and owner of his families bourbon distillery. Lila is CEO of her families bourbon distillery. When Lila’s father decides to sell it to Corbin, they become partners. Lila is strong and independent with her walls up and Corbin is the man to break them down!
I loved these two together! The chemistry and tension were so dang good. Corbin was that man. He was a golden retriever with a dirty mouth😍😮💨 The one bed moment in this one was lit perfection and so hot! The spice in this was done so well! The added suspense was good even though I did figure out who it was early on. But, that plot twist at the end had my mouth on the floor!😱
I loved all the Blackwell brothers. Their personalities were all so different and fun! I can’t wait to see whose book is next! Thank you to Ani and House of hearts for the advanced copy. This releases on 7/9 def recommend adding to your tbr!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️.5
💙rivals to lovers
💙forced proximity
💙one bed
💙romance suspense
💙black cat x golden retriever
July 20, 2026
I loved Corbin and Lila so much! Their chemistry and tension was there from the get go. Corbin was so intrigued by Lila before he even knew who she was. Lila had some high walls up and already had painted Corbin as the bad guy. But he slowly was able to tear those down and it was so cute to watch. From the little things like her coffee order to little paper cranes and little touches. To including her in all the business things and building her confidence up. What a badass as a woman in a male dominated world. Corbin showed her she was so much more. Also him taking to himself because he was so nervous had me cackling. That man was the sweetest human ever. Throw in one bed trope, and Corbin turns into a filthy mouth. I loveddd it! The office scene also? Girllll..
I loved all the different personalities coming from Corbin and his brothers and all the fun brotherly banter! Also, the plot twists on this one.. didn’t see that coming! I cannot wait for the rest of the series!
Thank you Ani and House of Hearts for this ARC!
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩:
• small town
• black cat x golden retriever
• millionaire mmc
• competitors turned partners
• forced proximity
• one bed
• he falls first
• dual pov
I loved all the different personalities coming from Corbin and his brothers and all the fun brotherly banter! Also, the plot twists on this one.. didn’t see that coming! I cannot wait for the rest of the series!
Thank you Ani and House of Hearts for this ARC!
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩:
• small town
• black cat x golden retriever
• millionaire mmc
• competitors turned partners
• forced proximity
• one bed
• he falls first
• dual pov
July 9, 2026
“But somewhere along the way, I stopped trying to get Lila to smile just to prove I could, and started trying to make her smile because seeing it made my entire goddamn day.” 🥹
What to Expect;
🥃 Small Town
💙 Black Cat x Golden Retriever
🥃 Millionaire MMC
💙 Competitors turned Partners
🥃 Forced Proximity
💙 One Bed
🥃 He Falls First
💙 Dual POV
I absolutely loved this story and the main characters so much! It was an amazing SLOW burn with so much tension! Corbin was the biggest golden retriever who fell HARD and man did he have a dirty mouth 🤭. Lila was something fierce and witty but very guarded. I enjoyed her walls slowly being broken down by Corbin! Seriously, patience of a saint! I was seriously so captivated by them both. The ONE BED scene was perfection and then when the tension snapped and they gave in, whoa that was HOTT 🥵. Overall, I loved this book! Such a sweet, funny, and lovable story! If you enjoy a SLOW burn with tension and a little bit of suspense with a twist 😮, this one is for you! 💙
What to Expect;
🥃 Small Town
💙 Black Cat x Golden Retriever
🥃 Millionaire MMC
💙 Competitors turned Partners
🥃 Forced Proximity
💙 One Bed
🥃 He Falls First
💙 Dual POV
I absolutely loved this story and the main characters so much! It was an amazing SLOW burn with so much tension! Corbin was the biggest golden retriever who fell HARD and man did he have a dirty mouth 🤭. Lila was something fierce and witty but very guarded. I enjoyed her walls slowly being broken down by Corbin! Seriously, patience of a saint! I was seriously so captivated by them both. The ONE BED scene was perfection and then when the tension snapped and they gave in, whoa that was HOTT 🥵. Overall, I loved this book! Such a sweet, funny, and lovable story! If you enjoy a SLOW burn with tension and a little bit of suspense with a twist 😮, this one is for you! 💙
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2026
Thank you Ani Thomas and House of Hearts Literary for this ARC!
This was a fantastic cozy read. We meet Corbin, whiskey distillery CEO of Blackwoods Whiskey. He is the oldest of 4 brothers and the clear runner of the show. He only wants what’s best for everyone and he will sacrifice himself to give it. Blackwoods takes on another small distillery Avondale and his new COO Lila Avondale comes with the acquisition. She is full of black cat energy and wants nothing to do with Corbin or Blackwood. As the story goes the forced proximity and the soon understanding of what goes on Lila starts to really see Corbin. It was such a sweet story and how they helped each other break down the walls the put up so high. There was also a huge twist that I definitely didn’t see coming! Overall if you love small town, strong family, black cat/golden retriever, millionaire MMC, forced proximity, one bed and he falls first then I definitely recommend this one!
This was a fantastic cozy read. We meet Corbin, whiskey distillery CEO of Blackwoods Whiskey. He is the oldest of 4 brothers and the clear runner of the show. He only wants what’s best for everyone and he will sacrifice himself to give it. Blackwoods takes on another small distillery Avondale and his new COO Lila Avondale comes with the acquisition. She is full of black cat energy and wants nothing to do with Corbin or Blackwood. As the story goes the forced proximity and the soon understanding of what goes on Lila starts to really see Corbin. It was such a sweet story and how they helped each other break down the walls the put up so high. There was also a huge twist that I definitely didn’t see coming! Overall if you love small town, strong family, black cat/golden retriever, millionaire MMC, forced proximity, one bed and he falls first then I definitely recommend this one!
July 11, 2026
“𝘐 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦, 𝘓𝘪𝘭𝘢. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦.“
4.5/⭐️
2/🌶️
I just adored Lila and Corbin!! Corbin is the perfect man. I loved how he fell so hard for Lila, and let her believe whatever she wanted about the business acquisition. He never once tried to make her believe anything else, he just showed her what kind of man he was instead and I was in love 🥹 Lila is so strong and independent, but even she couldn’t resist Corbin! I loved how this played out between them. It was a slow burn with some tension that had me screaming at them to kiss! And once they did… they were hot 🫠 Corbin may be a nice guy, but he has a filthy mouth 🤭 this was such a fun read that I had a great time with!!
This was a perfect start to a new series! I love the intro to the Blackwood brothers and cannot wait for more of them! Levi had me laughing so hard and Tate is my kind of man — grumpy and short with his words 🤭 I’m excited for what’s to come! 🫶🏼
🤍 what to expect -
Small Town
Black Cat x Golden Retriever
Millionaire MMC
Competitors turned Partners
Forced Proximity
One Bed
He Falls First
Dual POV
4.5/⭐️
2/🌶️
I just adored Lila and Corbin!! Corbin is the perfect man. I loved how he fell so hard for Lila, and let her believe whatever she wanted about the business acquisition. He never once tried to make her believe anything else, he just showed her what kind of man he was instead and I was in love 🥹 Lila is so strong and independent, but even she couldn’t resist Corbin! I loved how this played out between them. It was a slow burn with some tension that had me screaming at them to kiss! And once they did… they were hot 🫠 Corbin may be a nice guy, but he has a filthy mouth 🤭 this was such a fun read that I had a great time with!!
This was a perfect start to a new series! I love the intro to the Blackwood brothers and cannot wait for more of them! Levi had me laughing so hard and Tate is my kind of man — grumpy and short with his words 🤭 I’m excited for what’s to come! 🫶🏼
🤍 what to expect -
Small Town
Black Cat x Golden Retriever
Millionaire MMC
Competitors turned Partners
Forced Proximity
One Bed
He Falls First
Dual POV
July 15, 2026
If you like a small town, slow burn, enemies to lovers romance take a look at this book. Lila and Corbin find themselves business partners after Lila’s father goes behind her back and sells the family business to Corbin. He already has his own successful distillery. Assumptions and intrigue lead to an interesting partnership. Do they trust each other? The tension is fabulous, the chemistry is strong, but can Lila let down her walls?
I enjoyed this series starter, Corbin has brothers, I wonder who we get next? I am looking forward to more from this family.
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
I enjoyed this series starter, Corbin has brothers, I wonder who we get next? I am looking forward to more from this family.
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
July 30, 2026
⋆ ₊ ‧ ° 𐐪 ♡ 𐑂 ° ₊ ⋆ ₊
First off, a huge thank you to House of Hearts for an advanced copy of the book !!
⋆ ₊ ‧ ° 𐐪 ♡ 𐑂 ° ₊ ⋆ ₊
[ 🦢 My Rating: ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 4/5 Stars !! ]
Review:
I enjoyed reading this !! It was such a cute story and I genuinely didn't put this book down. I read it in one sitting and it had me giggling and kicking my feet.
The FMC was such a fun character and I realized loved her personality a lot !! The MMC was so kind and sweet, despite a lot of things !!
It was a refreshing read and I enjoyed it :)
⋆ ₊ ‧ ° 𐐪 ♡ 𐑂 ° ₊ ⋆ ₊
First off, a huge thank you to House of Hearts for an advanced copy of the book !!
⋆ ₊ ‧ ° 𐐪 ♡ 𐑂 ° ₊ ⋆ ₊
[ 🦢 My Rating: ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 4/5 Stars !! ]
Review:
I enjoyed reading this !! It was such a cute story and I genuinely didn't put this book down. I read it in one sitting and it had me giggling and kicking my feet.
The FMC was such a fun character and I realized loved her personality a lot !! The MMC was so kind and sweet, despite a lot of things !!
It was a refreshing read and I enjoyed it :)
⋆ ₊ ‧ ° 𐐪 ♡ 𐑂 ° ₊ ⋆ ₊
July 24, 2026
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Love a guy who’s a golden retriever obsessed with someone the total opposite. Ani’s writing flows so well, I have a hard time putting down her books.
Love a guy who’s a golden retriever obsessed with someone the total opposite. Ani’s writing flows so well, I have a hard time putting down her books.
July 21, 2026
A Romance Built on Patience, Family, and Choosing to Love Someone Exactly as They Are
Sometimes a romance isn't memorable because of grand gestures or dramatic twists.
Sometimes it's memorable because of the quiet moments.
The lingering glances across a room.
The conversations that slowly chip away at carefully built walls.
The patience to love someone exactly where they are instead of asking them to become someone else.
That is exactly what Hidden Hearts was for me.
From the very beginning, I found myself completely drawn into the Blackwood family's world. Their whiskey distillery wasn't simply a backdrop for the romance—it felt like another character in the story. It represented family, tradition, responsibility, grief, and the legacy Corbin was trying so hard to protect after stepping into his father's shoes.
As the oldest of five brothers, Corbin carries an enormous amount on his shoulders.
Running one of South Carolina's oldest distilleries would already be enough pressure for anyone, but what I admired most about him was that despite constantly putting everyone else first, he never became cold or emotionally unavailable. Beneath his calm exterior was someone who cared deeply about his family and quietly hoped there might still be room in his life for love.
Then Lila walks into that carefully structured life.
Their first meeting immediately made me smile because Lila wasn't afraid to voice exactly what she thought about the Blackwood's. She carried years of assumptions and distrust, and instead of becoming defensive, Corbin met her frustration with patience and genuine curiosity.
I loved that.
It would have been easy for this story to turn into endless arguments or miscommunication, but instead it became about earning trust.
Watching Corbin slowly prove that not every assumption she held was true made every interaction between them feel meaningful.
One thing I appreciated throughout the novel was how observant Corbin was.
He saw through Lila's carefully maintained composure almost immediately.
She wanted people to believe she had everything under control. She wanted those emotional walls to keep everyone at a safe distance.
Yet Corbin looked beyond every defense she built.
That dynamic became one of my favorite aspects of the entire romance because I think so many readers long for someone who doesn't simply hear what they're saying—but notices what they're struggling to say.
Corbin became that person for Lila.
The romance itself unfolded at exactly the pace I enjoy.
Nothing felt rushed.
Every smile.
Every lingering glance.
Every compliment.
Every awkward moment.
Every conversation slowly built toward something deeper.
The ballroom chapters were especially beautiful.
Corbin insisting on paying for Lila's dress while she stubbornly argued about paying him back perfectly captured their personalities. Their playful back-and-forth had me smiling the entire time.
And then...
The one-bed trope.
I don't think I'll ever recover from the Blackwood brothers' reactions.
Levi absolutely stole every scene he appeared in.
His humor brought so much life to the story, and I honestly laughed out loud when he handed Corbin condoms before the trip and reminded him,
"No glove, no love, brother."
That entire sequence felt exactly like how siblings tease each other, and it made the family dynamic feel incredibly authentic.
If there was one thing that completely won me over, though, it was Corbin's date planning.
I don't think I've ever read a date quite like this one.
Knowing that Corbin loved making origami, then using it to create an entire adventure where Lila could choose each activity as they went along, was one of the most thoughtful and creative romantic gestures I've read in a long time.
It wasn't flashy.
It wasn't expensive.
It simply showed how much thought he had put into making the day special for her.
Ending the evening with sushi at Cypress Gardens after closing hours only made it even more romantic.
The emotional stakes of the novel also surprised me.
While the romance remained the heart of the story, seeing the devastation the Blackwood brothers experienced when something so important to their family's legacy was threatened genuinely hurt to read.
Those moments reminded me that this wasn't only a love story.
It was also about family, grief, resilience, and continuing to move forward even when something precious has been lost.
One line from Levi especially stayed with me:
"There's no use crying over spilled whiskey."
Simple.
Funny.
Yet incredibly wise.
That line perfectly summed up the strength of the Blackwood family.
Rather than staying trapped in what they couldn't change, they chose to move forward together.
By the end of the novel I found myself just as invested in every brother as I was in Corbin and Lila.
The romance delivered wonderful chemistry, delicious slow burn, and some very satisfying spice—I'd comfortably place it around 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (8/10)—but what truly stayed with me were the characters.
Corbin is one of those heroes who doesn't try to rescue the heroine.
He simply keeps showing up.
He keeps choosing her.
Again and again.
And sometimes that's the most romantic thing of all.
If you enjoy:
🥃 Family-owned businesses
💙 Protective oldest brothers
✨ Business partners
🏡 Small-town romance
🛏️ One bed
💃 Ballroom romance
🍣 Creative date nights
❤️ Slow burn
👨👩👦 Strong sibling relationships
🔥 Incredible chemistry
...then I can't recommend Hidden Hearts enough.
Ani Thomas has created a family I already know I'm going to miss, and if Levi's book is anywhere near as entertaining as his appearances in this one, I already know I'll be reading it the second it's released.
Sometimes a romance isn't memorable because of grand gestures or dramatic twists.
Sometimes it's memorable because of the quiet moments.
The lingering glances across a room.
The conversations that slowly chip away at carefully built walls.
The patience to love someone exactly where they are instead of asking them to become someone else.
That is exactly what Hidden Hearts was for me.
From the very beginning, I found myself completely drawn into the Blackwood family's world. Their whiskey distillery wasn't simply a backdrop for the romance—it felt like another character in the story. It represented family, tradition, responsibility, grief, and the legacy Corbin was trying so hard to protect after stepping into his father's shoes.
As the oldest of five brothers, Corbin carries an enormous amount on his shoulders.
Running one of South Carolina's oldest distilleries would already be enough pressure for anyone, but what I admired most about him was that despite constantly putting everyone else first, he never became cold or emotionally unavailable. Beneath his calm exterior was someone who cared deeply about his family and quietly hoped there might still be room in his life for love.
Then Lila walks into that carefully structured life.
Their first meeting immediately made me smile because Lila wasn't afraid to voice exactly what she thought about the Blackwood's. She carried years of assumptions and distrust, and instead of becoming defensive, Corbin met her frustration with patience and genuine curiosity.
I loved that.
It would have been easy for this story to turn into endless arguments or miscommunication, but instead it became about earning trust.
Watching Corbin slowly prove that not every assumption she held was true made every interaction between them feel meaningful.
One thing I appreciated throughout the novel was how observant Corbin was.
He saw through Lila's carefully maintained composure almost immediately.
She wanted people to believe she had everything under control. She wanted those emotional walls to keep everyone at a safe distance.
Yet Corbin looked beyond every defense she built.
That dynamic became one of my favorite aspects of the entire romance because I think so many readers long for someone who doesn't simply hear what they're saying—but notices what they're struggling to say.
Corbin became that person for Lila.
The romance itself unfolded at exactly the pace I enjoy.
Nothing felt rushed.
Every smile.
Every lingering glance.
Every compliment.
Every awkward moment.
Every conversation slowly built toward something deeper.
The ballroom chapters were especially beautiful.
Corbin insisting on paying for Lila's dress while she stubbornly argued about paying him back perfectly captured their personalities. Their playful back-and-forth had me smiling the entire time.
And then...
The one-bed trope.
I don't think I'll ever recover from the Blackwood brothers' reactions.
Levi absolutely stole every scene he appeared in.
His humor brought so much life to the story, and I honestly laughed out loud when he handed Corbin condoms before the trip and reminded him,
"No glove, no love, brother."
That entire sequence felt exactly like how siblings tease each other, and it made the family dynamic feel incredibly authentic.
If there was one thing that completely won me over, though, it was Corbin's date planning.
I don't think I've ever read a date quite like this one.
Knowing that Corbin loved making origami, then using it to create an entire adventure where Lila could choose each activity as they went along, was one of the most thoughtful and creative romantic gestures I've read in a long time.
It wasn't flashy.
It wasn't expensive.
It simply showed how much thought he had put into making the day special for her.
Ending the evening with sushi at Cypress Gardens after closing hours only made it even more romantic.
The emotional stakes of the novel also surprised me.
While the romance remained the heart of the story, seeing the devastation the Blackwood brothers experienced when something so important to their family's legacy was threatened genuinely hurt to read.
Those moments reminded me that this wasn't only a love story.
It was also about family, grief, resilience, and continuing to move forward even when something precious has been lost.
One line from Levi especially stayed with me:
"There's no use crying over spilled whiskey."
Simple.
Funny.
Yet incredibly wise.
That line perfectly summed up the strength of the Blackwood family.
Rather than staying trapped in what they couldn't change, they chose to move forward together.
By the end of the novel I found myself just as invested in every brother as I was in Corbin and Lila.
The romance delivered wonderful chemistry, delicious slow burn, and some very satisfying spice—I'd comfortably place it around 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (8/10)—but what truly stayed with me were the characters.
Corbin is one of those heroes who doesn't try to rescue the heroine.
He simply keeps showing up.
He keeps choosing her.
Again and again.
And sometimes that's the most romantic thing of all.
If you enjoy:
🥃 Family-owned businesses
💙 Protective oldest brothers
✨ Business partners
🏡 Small-town romance
🛏️ One bed
💃 Ballroom romance
🍣 Creative date nights
❤️ Slow burn
👨👩👦 Strong sibling relationships
🔥 Incredible chemistry
...then I can't recommend Hidden Hearts enough.
Ani Thomas has created a family I already know I'm going to miss, and if Levi's book is anywhere near as entertaining as his appearances in this one, I already know I'll be reading it the second it's released.
July 10, 2026
Amazon
Corbin's the CEO of his family's prestigious distillery when a local competitor comes to him with a surprise, welcome offer. With that offer comes the competitor's daughter, the very woman who was ice cold to him the night before. Working with Lila is beginning to show a different side to her, and he's determined to prove to her that he and his family are not who she prejudged them to be. Will he ever be able to get her to open her heart to him?
Lila's starting to realize she and her family had some serious misconceptions about Corbin and his family and business. She's got walls up sky high now that her father has sold their company to Corbin's. She has to work with the man she can't stand - that's not going to end well...until it does, and she's warming up to his golden retriever energy. If she can completely open up, she and Corbin could have something beautiful.
Golden retriever x prickly black cat has never been so sweet and delicious. Corbin may be the friendliest, sweetest of a golden retriever guy, but his mouth is positively sinful! He and Lila are perfect for each other, the way they start off as rivals, enemies, what have you, but in true fashion, he gently proves to her she can trust him with every part of her - her heart, her soul, and her body. I adored this couple and am seriously excited for the rest of the Blackwood guys to fall in love now.
ARC provided by House of Hearts Literary Services for an honest review.
Review: Live Through Books Blog.
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July 24, 2026
🥃 When Someone Finally Sees Your Worth 🥃
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 🌶️🌶️
Some romances rely on grand declarations of love to sweep you off your feet. Hidden Hearts takes a different approach, reminding us that the strongest relationships are built through patience, trust, and the quiet decision to show up for someone every single day. From the first page to the last, this beautifully crafted slow burn completely immersed me in Corbin and Lila's story, delivering a romance that felt both deeply emotional and incredibly rewarding.
Lila has spent years fighting to prove herself in a male-dominated industry, so when her father unexpectedly sells their family's whiskey distillery to the Blackwood family, she's convinced she's about to lose everything she's worked so hard to protect. Her walls are high, her trust is nearly impossible to earn, and honestly, I couldn't blame her. What made this story stand out was watching Corbin refuse to become another person who underestimated her. Rather than questioning her experience or dismissing her opinions, he listened. He collaborated. He made sure she had an equal voice in every decision, showing her through his actions that he respected both her knowledge and the legacy she was determined to preserve.
Corbin is exactly the kind of hero I love reading about. Patient, thoughtful, quietly confident, and endlessly supportive, he never tries to rush Lila into trusting him or becoming someone she's not. Instead, he earns every piece of her heart through consistency and kindness. Whether he was remembering her coffee order, leaving tiny origami cranes with handwritten notes tucked inside their wings, or simply making space for her ideas to be heard, every gesture carried meaning. He understood that trust is earned through consistent actions. Watching Lila slowly realize she no longer needed the walls she'd spent years hiding behind made their relationship feel incredibly authentic and all the more satisfying.
Their chemistry is undeniable from the very beginning. The black cat and golden retriever dynamic creates delicious tension that only gets better as the story unfolds, making every lingering glance, playful exchange, and forced proximity moment impossible not to savor. The one-bed trope was executed perfectly (I absolutely squealed!), and while the spice is lighter, every intimate moment felt completely earned because of the emotional journey that came before it. Add in Corbin's unexpectedly filthy mouth, the mystery surrounding the sabotage at the distillery, and the wonderful Blackwood family dynamics filled with hilarious sibling banter, and there was never a moment where I wanted to put this book down.
What stayed with me most after finishing Hidden Hearts wasn't just the romance. It was the reminder that real love isn't about changing someone or tearing down their defenses. It's about creating a space where they finally feel safe enough to lower those walls on their own. Corbin never asked Lila to become less. He simply reminded her, day after day, that she had always been enough. That message, combined with a beautifully paced slow burn and characters I already can't wait to revisit, made this an unforgettable start to the Blackwood Hearts series. I am beyond excited to see where Ani Thomas takes the rest of the Blackwood brothers next.
Thank you to Ani Thomas and House of Hearts Lit for the gifted advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 🌶️🌶️
Some romances rely on grand declarations of love to sweep you off your feet. Hidden Hearts takes a different approach, reminding us that the strongest relationships are built through patience, trust, and the quiet decision to show up for someone every single day. From the first page to the last, this beautifully crafted slow burn completely immersed me in Corbin and Lila's story, delivering a romance that felt both deeply emotional and incredibly rewarding.
Lila has spent years fighting to prove herself in a male-dominated industry, so when her father unexpectedly sells their family's whiskey distillery to the Blackwood family, she's convinced she's about to lose everything she's worked so hard to protect. Her walls are high, her trust is nearly impossible to earn, and honestly, I couldn't blame her. What made this story stand out was watching Corbin refuse to become another person who underestimated her. Rather than questioning her experience or dismissing her opinions, he listened. He collaborated. He made sure she had an equal voice in every decision, showing her through his actions that he respected both her knowledge and the legacy she was determined to preserve.
Corbin is exactly the kind of hero I love reading about. Patient, thoughtful, quietly confident, and endlessly supportive, he never tries to rush Lila into trusting him or becoming someone she's not. Instead, he earns every piece of her heart through consistency and kindness. Whether he was remembering her coffee order, leaving tiny origami cranes with handwritten notes tucked inside their wings, or simply making space for her ideas to be heard, every gesture carried meaning. He understood that trust is earned through consistent actions. Watching Lila slowly realize she no longer needed the walls she'd spent years hiding behind made their relationship feel incredibly authentic and all the more satisfying.
Their chemistry is undeniable from the very beginning. The black cat and golden retriever dynamic creates delicious tension that only gets better as the story unfolds, making every lingering glance, playful exchange, and forced proximity moment impossible not to savor. The one-bed trope was executed perfectly (I absolutely squealed!), and while the spice is lighter, every intimate moment felt completely earned because of the emotional journey that came before it. Add in Corbin's unexpectedly filthy mouth, the mystery surrounding the sabotage at the distillery, and the wonderful Blackwood family dynamics filled with hilarious sibling banter, and there was never a moment where I wanted to put this book down.
What stayed with me most after finishing Hidden Hearts wasn't just the romance. It was the reminder that real love isn't about changing someone or tearing down their defenses. It's about creating a space where they finally feel safe enough to lower those walls on their own. Corbin never asked Lila to become less. He simply reminded her, day after day, that she had always been enough. That message, combined with a beautifully paced slow burn and characters I already can't wait to revisit, made this an unforgettable start to the Blackwood Hearts series. I am beyond excited to see where Ani Thomas takes the rest of the Blackwood brothers next.
Thank you to Ani Thomas and House of Hearts Lit for the gifted advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 11, 2026
This book surprised me in the best way. 💙
At first glance, Hidden Hearts feels like a workplace romance set in the world of whiskey distilleries. But underneath it all is a story about grief, trust, and finally finding someone who sees your worth when you've spent your entire life questioning it.
Lila has spent years fighting to be heard in a male-dominated industry. Even after becoming COO of the distillery her father sold to the Blackwood family, she's convinced she'll continue to be overlooked. Guarded and fiercely independent, she doesn't trust the Blackwoods, especially Corbin.
Corbin, on the other hand, completely stole my heart.
He's patient, compassionate, and quietly confident. While everyone else has underestimated Lila, Corbin never once questions her abilities. He sees her as the intelligent, capable businesswoman she is from the very beginning, and I loved watching someone finally recognize what she'd always been capable of.
What I loved most about this story was that Corbin never tried to tear down Lila's walls. He simply kept showing up until she realized she didn't need them anymore. Whether it was quietly believing in her at work or leaving tiny origami cranes on her desk with handwritten notes tucked into their wings, his actions always spoke louder than his words. And when Lila tried to surprise him by making one of her own, my heart absolutely melted.
Their relationship develops so naturally. Corbin falls firs, and falls hard, but never pressures Lila to catch up. Instead, he gives her the space to trust him in her own time, until she finally let him in.
There's also a touch of mystery and suspense woven throughout. I did figure out who was behind it, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment because the heart of this story was always the relationship.
I also loved the dynamic between the Blackwood brothers (and yes, the sibling group chat was a highlight 😂). I'm especially intrigued by the mystery surrounding the fourth brother, and I'm hoping we get much more of his story as the series continues.
If you're looking for a he falls first, patient golden retriever hero, a guarded FMC, workplace romance, and a story that proves sometimes the greatest act of love is simply making someone feel seen, I definitely recommend Hidden Hearts.
Thank you to House of Hearts Lit and the author for the gifted advance electronic copy to read and review.
At first glance, Hidden Hearts feels like a workplace romance set in the world of whiskey distilleries. But underneath it all is a story about grief, trust, and finally finding someone who sees your worth when you've spent your entire life questioning it.
Lila has spent years fighting to be heard in a male-dominated industry. Even after becoming COO of the distillery her father sold to the Blackwood family, she's convinced she'll continue to be overlooked. Guarded and fiercely independent, she doesn't trust the Blackwoods, especially Corbin.
Corbin, on the other hand, completely stole my heart.
He's patient, compassionate, and quietly confident. While everyone else has underestimated Lila, Corbin never once questions her abilities. He sees her as the intelligent, capable businesswoman she is from the very beginning, and I loved watching someone finally recognize what she'd always been capable of.
What I loved most about this story was that Corbin never tried to tear down Lila's walls. He simply kept showing up until she realized she didn't need them anymore. Whether it was quietly believing in her at work or leaving tiny origami cranes on her desk with handwritten notes tucked into their wings, his actions always spoke louder than his words. And when Lila tried to surprise him by making one of her own, my heart absolutely melted.
Their relationship develops so naturally. Corbin falls firs, and falls hard, but never pressures Lila to catch up. Instead, he gives her the space to trust him in her own time, until she finally let him in.
There's also a touch of mystery and suspense woven throughout. I did figure out who was behind it, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment because the heart of this story was always the relationship.
I also loved the dynamic between the Blackwood brothers (and yes, the sibling group chat was a highlight 😂). I'm especially intrigued by the mystery surrounding the fourth brother, and I'm hoping we get much more of his story as the series continues.
If you're looking for a he falls first, patient golden retriever hero, a guarded FMC, workplace romance, and a story that proves sometimes the greatest act of love is simply making someone feel seen, I definitely recommend Hidden Hearts.
Thank you to House of Hearts Lit and the author for the gifted advance electronic copy to read and review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
🌶️🌶️.5/5
Ani Thomas is a new-to-me author, and I’m so glad I applied for this ARC. Hidden Hearts is a really sweet romance that I think a lot of people will enjoy.
In this one, you’re getting: ✨ Rivals to partners ✨ Black cat x golden retriever ✨ Forced proximity ✨ One bed
I mean, those tropes alone are right up my alley, so I knew this book was going to be a good one.
This one follows Corbin, the CEO of his family’s whiskey company, who has recently bought Lila’s family’s distillery with plans to combine the two businesses. As you can imagine, Lila is hesitant from the start. She’s got a bit of a chip on her shoulder based on the circumstances and what she thinks she knows about Corbin and his family. Corbin, on the other hand, is intrigued by Lila from the start.
This one has tons of delicious tension right from the jump. Lila’s prickly personality in the beginning was completely understandable, but I loved that it didn’t carry on forever. She was able to see through her initial assumptions and recognize Corbin’s true nature: a really sweet golden retriever who is always trying to be there for everyone.
Overall, I really enjoyed this romance. I liked both characters individually, I loved them together, and I thought the pacing and story were strong. It had those great will-they-won’t-they moments, the one bed situation was so good, and the side characters were great. I’d definitely love to see what happens with the rest of the brothers.
The only element that didn’t completely work for me was the suspense surrounding things going wrong at the distillery and the mystery of who was behind it all. The culprit felt pretty obvious to me from the get-go, so I do think that part could have been developed a little more strongly. That said, it didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the book at all.
Overall, Hidden Hearts is a really sweet romance with plenty of chemistry, spice, great tropes, and characters who are easy to root for. I definitely think small town romance lovers will really like this one.
Thank you to Ani Thomas and House of Hearts for the ARC and the opportunity to read and provide my honest review.
Ani Thomas is a new-to-me author, and I’m so glad I applied for this ARC. Hidden Hearts is a really sweet romance that I think a lot of people will enjoy.
In this one, you’re getting: ✨ Rivals to partners ✨ Black cat x golden retriever ✨ Forced proximity ✨ One bed
I mean, those tropes alone are right up my alley, so I knew this book was going to be a good one.
This one follows Corbin, the CEO of his family’s whiskey company, who has recently bought Lila’s family’s distillery with plans to combine the two businesses. As you can imagine, Lila is hesitant from the start. She’s got a bit of a chip on her shoulder based on the circumstances and what she thinks she knows about Corbin and his family. Corbin, on the other hand, is intrigued by Lila from the start.
This one has tons of delicious tension right from the jump. Lila’s prickly personality in the beginning was completely understandable, but I loved that it didn’t carry on forever. She was able to see through her initial assumptions and recognize Corbin’s true nature: a really sweet golden retriever who is always trying to be there for everyone.
Overall, I really enjoyed this romance. I liked both characters individually, I loved them together, and I thought the pacing and story were strong. It had those great will-they-won’t-they moments, the one bed situation was so good, and the side characters were great. I’d definitely love to see what happens with the rest of the brothers.
The only element that didn’t completely work for me was the suspense surrounding things going wrong at the distillery and the mystery of who was behind it all. The culprit felt pretty obvious to me from the get-go, so I do think that part could have been developed a little more strongly. That said, it didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the book at all.
Overall, Hidden Hearts is a really sweet romance with plenty of chemistry, spice, great tropes, and characters who are easy to root for. I definitely think small town romance lovers will really like this one.
Thank you to Ani Thomas and House of Hearts for the ARC and the opportunity to read and provide my honest review.
July 9, 2026
5⭐️ // 3🌶
Hidden hearts is the first book of the "Blackwood Heart" series. A series about 4 brothers, and their family business.
Lila is not pleased with the deal her father made with the Blackwoods, selling their distillery to the competitors. Why sell to those guys, knowing their reputation. And business is going so well too? And then also stepping down, making her the new COO of the blackwood company. She is convinced Corbin, eldest of the brothers and boss of the company, was the one who trickted her father in this nightmare. She is openly irritated and blaming him with snarky comments and a whole lot of sas, but then he turns out nothing like the image she has of him.
When his dad died 2 years ago, Corbin took over the family business. Taking on the big responsibilty, putting his needs below the firms or his family. All in for the aquisition and deal, he stays true to himself. He knows Lila has a bad image of him, and he is determined to show her wrong. Not with any hidden agenda, but with an open and pure heart, understanding how it must hurt for Lila needing to let go of her "home". Impressed with their single malt, he wants to keep its origin clear to the market. Whilst showing Lila the kind of person he is, he gets more and more glimpses of the girl behind all those walls and he is a goner.
To keep everyone on their toes, there is also the problem of sabotage in the company, with one trying to stay in between a happy end. The whole story is a sweet (and funny) slowburn that had me rooting for them all the way. The dynamics between the different brothers and the whole warm, heartfilling atmosphere of the firm feels like the best summer day picnic.The way the girls clicked an amazing bonus. I can not wait to see which brother is up next and to see how everyones story develops further. Thomas was a new author for me, and girl did she ace it! I will def be looking into more of her stories.
"𝑨𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚" 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒚.
Hidden hearts is the first book of the "Blackwood Heart" series. A series about 4 brothers, and their family business.
Lila is not pleased with the deal her father made with the Blackwoods, selling their distillery to the competitors. Why sell to those guys, knowing their reputation. And business is going so well too? And then also stepping down, making her the new COO of the blackwood company. She is convinced Corbin, eldest of the brothers and boss of the company, was the one who trickted her father in this nightmare. She is openly irritated and blaming him with snarky comments and a whole lot of sas, but then he turns out nothing like the image she has of him.
When his dad died 2 years ago, Corbin took over the family business. Taking on the big responsibilty, putting his needs below the firms or his family. All in for the aquisition and deal, he stays true to himself. He knows Lila has a bad image of him, and he is determined to show her wrong. Not with any hidden agenda, but with an open and pure heart, understanding how it must hurt for Lila needing to let go of her "home". Impressed with their single malt, he wants to keep its origin clear to the market. Whilst showing Lila the kind of person he is, he gets more and more glimpses of the girl behind all those walls and he is a goner.
To keep everyone on their toes, there is also the problem of sabotage in the company, with one trying to stay in between a happy end. The whole story is a sweet (and funny) slowburn that had me rooting for them all the way. The dynamics between the different brothers and the whole warm, heartfilling atmosphere of the firm feels like the best summer day picnic.The way the girls clicked an amazing bonus. I can not wait to see which brother is up next and to see how everyones story develops further. Thomas was a new author for me, and girl did she ace it! I will def be looking into more of her stories.
"𝑨𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚" 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒚.
July 13, 2026
Hidden Hearts was such an enjoyable start to the Blackwood Hearts series and completely won me over with its emotional slow burn, lovable characters, and strong family dynamics.
🤍 Corbin and Lila are the definition of golden retriever x black cat, and I couldn't get enough of them. Corbin is the kind of book boyfriend that's impossible not to love: patient, supportive, emotionally mature, and an absolute green flag. 🐶 I adored that he never tried to diminish Lila's voice. Instead, he constantly made sure she was seen, heard and respected, especially in an industry where she had spent years fighting to prove herself. Watching him believe in her abilities before she was ready to believe in him made their relationship feel incredibly rewarding.
🥃 Lila was a heroine I really admired. Her guarded personality never felt frustrating because her fears and hesitation made perfect sense. Seeing her slowly lower those walls and realize that she deserved both success and love was one of my favorite parts of the story. 🐈⬛ Their romance is definitely a slow burn, but the tension, banter and yearning make every step of their journey worth it. And yes... the one-bed scene? 🛏️ Absolutely everything I hoped it would be. 🔥
I also loved the Blackwood family and the suspense surrounding the distillery. 🤭
✨ My only reason for not giving this five stars is that the pacing slowed a bit in the middle, and I would have loved a longer epilogue to spend just a little more time with Corbin and Lila after everything they went through.
Overall, Hidden Hearts is a heartfelt, character-driven romance filled with emotional growth, meaningful partnership, and one of the sweetest green-flag heroes I've read in a while.
⭐️ 4.25/5 - 🌶️ 3.5/5
Thank you to House of Hearts and Ani Thomas for the ARC of this book. 🫶🏻
🤍 Corbin and Lila are the definition of golden retriever x black cat, and I couldn't get enough of them. Corbin is the kind of book boyfriend that's impossible not to love: patient, supportive, emotionally mature, and an absolute green flag. 🐶 I adored that he never tried to diminish Lila's voice. Instead, he constantly made sure she was seen, heard and respected, especially in an industry where she had spent years fighting to prove herself. Watching him believe in her abilities before she was ready to believe in him made their relationship feel incredibly rewarding.
🥃 Lila was a heroine I really admired. Her guarded personality never felt frustrating because her fears and hesitation made perfect sense. Seeing her slowly lower those walls and realize that she deserved both success and love was one of my favorite parts of the story. 🐈⬛ Their romance is definitely a slow burn, but the tension, banter and yearning make every step of their journey worth it. And yes... the one-bed scene? 🛏️ Absolutely everything I hoped it would be. 🔥
I also loved the Blackwood family and the suspense surrounding the distillery. 🤭
✨ My only reason for not giving this five stars is that the pacing slowed a bit in the middle, and I would have loved a longer epilogue to spend just a little more time with Corbin and Lila after everything they went through.
Overall, Hidden Hearts is a heartfelt, character-driven romance filled with emotional growth, meaningful partnership, and one of the sweetest green-flag heroes I've read in a while.
⭐️ 4.25/5 - 🌶️ 3.5/5
Thank you to House of Hearts and Ani Thomas for the ARC of this book. 🫶🏻
Review of advance copy received from Author
-Black Cat x Golden Retriever
-He Falls First
-Millionaire MMC
-Competitors Turned Partners
-Forced Proximity
This is the first book I have read by this author and it certainly won’t be my last. If you loved a closed off Black Cat FMC and a swoony Golden Retriever MMC, you need to read this book. If you love some good tension mixed an undeniable connection, read this book! I absolutely loved the plot and the little bits of suspense mixed it!
Lila is fierce! She is loyal to a fault and is so incredibly strong. She is the epitome of girl boss! She is so knowledgeable when it comes to the malt she created and is extremely good when it comes to her family business. Although in the book it comes to a halt with the sale of the family business but she isn’t going to give in easy. She makes every assumption about Corbin and his family until he proves that her assumptions are absolutely wrong.
Corbin is a really good guy with a ton of heart. He is the type of book boyfriend you want. He works extremely hard to run his family business. He is extremely loyal. He will stop at nothing to prove to Lila that he is not who she thinks. He doesn’t throw around money like he has it. He is not your typical stuffy business man! I absolutely loved Corbin and watching him fall was perfection!
I clearly loved this book if you can’t tell. I loved the atmosphere and Corbin’s brothers/family are so amazing! I can’t wait for the next book!
Thank you to the author and agency for allowing me to read this Advanced Readers Copy!
-He Falls First
-Millionaire MMC
-Competitors Turned Partners
-Forced Proximity
This is the first book I have read by this author and it certainly won’t be my last. If you loved a closed off Black Cat FMC and a swoony Golden Retriever MMC, you need to read this book. If you love some good tension mixed an undeniable connection, read this book! I absolutely loved the plot and the little bits of suspense mixed it!
Lila is fierce! She is loyal to a fault and is so incredibly strong. She is the epitome of girl boss! She is so knowledgeable when it comes to the malt she created and is extremely good when it comes to her family business. Although in the book it comes to a halt with the sale of the family business but she isn’t going to give in easy. She makes every assumption about Corbin and his family until he proves that her assumptions are absolutely wrong.
Corbin is a really good guy with a ton of heart. He is the type of book boyfriend you want. He works extremely hard to run his family business. He is extremely loyal. He will stop at nothing to prove to Lila that he is not who she thinks. He doesn’t throw around money like he has it. He is not your typical stuffy business man! I absolutely loved Corbin and watching him fall was perfection!
I clearly loved this book if you can’t tell. I loved the atmosphere and Corbin’s brothers/family are so amazing! I can’t wait for the next book!
Thank you to the author and agency for allowing me to read this Advanced Readers Copy!
July 11, 2026
3.5 stars
Hidden Hearts, the first book in the Blackwood Hearts series, follows the story of Corbin, the CEO of the largest and oldest whiskey distillery in South Carolina. He makes a deal with Lila’s father, who sells their family’s distillery to Corbin. In return, Lily becomes the COO of Corbin’s company. However, their relationship starts off rocky as Lily believes Corbin forced her father to sell. She also feels like she’s struggling to make a name for herself in the male-dominated industry. Despite Corbin’s attempts to be her friend, it’s challenging to break down her walls.
Over time, they discover shared interests and realize they’ve both judged each other based on preconceived notions. This realization leads to a stronger working relationship and the development of feelings for each other. Lily is a fierce, intelligent, and determined female protagonist who remains true to herself throughout the story. I admire her unwavering self-confidence. Corbin, on the other hand, is portrayed as genuine, sweet, and protective of his family. I enjoyed seeing him actively involve himself in Lily’s life and get to know her better.
Their love story begins as friends and gradually evolves over time. While I would have given this book a 4-star rating, I had two minor issues with it. Firstly, the suspense storyline felt too predictable. I could sense the culprit from the early part of the story. Secondly, the pacing of the book was inconsistent. I thoroughly enjoyed the second half, but the beginning felt a bit slow.
Overall, I want to express my gratitude to House of Hearts Lit for providing me with an ARC for an honest review.
Hidden Hearts, the first book in the Blackwood Hearts series, follows the story of Corbin, the CEO of the largest and oldest whiskey distillery in South Carolina. He makes a deal with Lila’s father, who sells their family’s distillery to Corbin. In return, Lily becomes the COO of Corbin’s company. However, their relationship starts off rocky as Lily believes Corbin forced her father to sell. She also feels like she’s struggling to make a name for herself in the male-dominated industry. Despite Corbin’s attempts to be her friend, it’s challenging to break down her walls.
Over time, they discover shared interests and realize they’ve both judged each other based on preconceived notions. This realization leads to a stronger working relationship and the development of feelings for each other. Lily is a fierce, intelligent, and determined female protagonist who remains true to herself throughout the story. I admire her unwavering self-confidence. Corbin, on the other hand, is portrayed as genuine, sweet, and protective of his family. I enjoyed seeing him actively involve himself in Lily’s life and get to know her better.
Their love story begins as friends and gradually evolves over time. While I would have given this book a 4-star rating, I had two minor issues with it. Firstly, the suspense storyline felt too predictable. I could sense the culprit from the early part of the story. Secondly, the pacing of the book was inconsistent. I thoroughly enjoyed the second half, but the beginning felt a bit slow.
Overall, I want to express my gratitude to House of Hearts Lit for providing me with an ARC for an honest review.
July 17, 2026
✨️ARC REVIEW✨️
What a great start to a new small town series! Corbin and Lila stole my heart and I'm excited to see the rest of the Blackwoodn brothers find love as well.
A man who fully supports a woman in business is a man after my own heart, and that was Corbin. Full of green flags, he didn't let Lila's black cat energy deter him. I adored how patient he was with her, slowly breaking down her walls. He was gone for her the moment he laid eyes on her.
"I'm not trying to break down your walls. Not yet. I'm just...looking for a window." *swoon*
Lila was one tough cookie. She'd dealt with misogyny at her dad's company her whole life. Pair that with not having the full picture of why her dad sold their distillery to Corbin, and I didn't blame her one bit for her attitude. She wasn't afraid to admit when she was wrong though, and it was so nice to see each time she realized she could let down her guard, that Corbin wasn't going to hurt her.
"Corbin looked at me like I was the most breathtaking thing he'd ever seen, and it cut straight through my defenses."
There is a little mystery that runs through the storyline, and although I predicted part of it, there was one aspect I didn't see coming! I really enjoyed how Ani pulled that all together in the end.
This takes place in an adjacent world to Ani's previous series and there are brief mentions of a couple of those characters. Definitely don't need to read that first, but if you like small town romance with characters you're sure to fall for, check out her Bayport Cove series!
What a great start to a new small town series! Corbin and Lila stole my heart and I'm excited to see the rest of the Blackwoodn brothers find love as well.
A man who fully supports a woman in business is a man after my own heart, and that was Corbin. Full of green flags, he didn't let Lila's black cat energy deter him. I adored how patient he was with her, slowly breaking down her walls. He was gone for her the moment he laid eyes on her.
"I'm not trying to break down your walls. Not yet. I'm just...looking for a window." *swoon*
Lila was one tough cookie. She'd dealt with misogyny at her dad's company her whole life. Pair that with not having the full picture of why her dad sold their distillery to Corbin, and I didn't blame her one bit for her attitude. She wasn't afraid to admit when she was wrong though, and it was so nice to see each time she realized she could let down her guard, that Corbin wasn't going to hurt her.
"Corbin looked at me like I was the most breathtaking thing he'd ever seen, and it cut straight through my defenses."
There is a little mystery that runs through the storyline, and although I predicted part of it, there was one aspect I didn't see coming! I really enjoyed how Ani pulled that all together in the end.
This takes place in an adjacent world to Ani's previous series and there are brief mentions of a couple of those characters. Definitely don't need to read that first, but if you like small town romance with characters you're sure to fall for, check out her Bayport Cove series!
July 19, 2026
I have gotten into a bad habit of staying up way too late to finish a book. This one is another one to add to that list. I really enjoyed this book and did not want it to end!
This is the first time in a while where I didn't love the FMC at the beginning. Normally, it is the MMC who is a jerk at the beginning, but this time that wasn't the case. She very quickly grew on me, and I ended up loving Lila. Lila is in a male-dominated field and has been looked down on or dismissed her whole life. She has lots of walls up because of this. She thought Corbin would be the same. He definitely proved her wrong.
Where I didn't necessarily love Lila at Fiest, I adored Corbin from the beginning. He is so sweet, loving, never even thought to dismiss Lila or her opinions, and shows up and supports Lila in so many ways! He has walls up, too.
They are perfect for each other. They were able to break through each other's walls. Their chemistry and the tension between them were so good.
I loved the added suspense of all the different things going on at the distillery and not knowing who was behind it. I saw the twist kind of. I did not see the twist on the twist coming. It was the first time in a while that I was actually surprised by a twist.
Corbin’s brothers are definitely entertaining characters, especially Levi. I am hoping that, since this is book 1, we will get their stories as well!
This book was so well written. I loved the characters, supporting characters, and the plot of this story! Thank you for this ARC!
This is the first time in a while where I didn't love the FMC at the beginning. Normally, it is the MMC who is a jerk at the beginning, but this time that wasn't the case. She very quickly grew on me, and I ended up loving Lila. Lila is in a male-dominated field and has been looked down on or dismissed her whole life. She has lots of walls up because of this. She thought Corbin would be the same. He definitely proved her wrong.
Where I didn't necessarily love Lila at Fiest, I adored Corbin from the beginning. He is so sweet, loving, never even thought to dismiss Lila or her opinions, and shows up and supports Lila in so many ways! He has walls up, too.
They are perfect for each other. They were able to break through each other's walls. Their chemistry and the tension between them were so good.
I loved the added suspense of all the different things going on at the distillery and not knowing who was behind it. I saw the twist kind of. I did not see the twist on the twist coming. It was the first time in a while that I was actually surprised by a twist.
Corbin’s brothers are definitely entertaining characters, especially Levi. I am hoping that, since this is book 1, we will get their stories as well!
This book was so well written. I loved the characters, supporting characters, and the plot of this story! Thank you for this ARC!
July 15, 2026
i truly was excited to read this. its not everyday that you find a novel revolving around distillery and millionaire and competitors, the plot really REALLY had potential. the writing fell really flat and at times, i really couldnt imagine the person behind the words describing the characters, there were just too much inconsistencies and you really cant convince me that a millionaire, who is well in his 30s, would ever speak like that in real life whilst having conversations. similarly for the FMC, no way someone who had to work this hard to prove her worth to a board of misogynists would be blindly hating on a person to THAT extent and her prejudice really really dragged on to the point where i started skimming when it happened. the person behind the sabotages became quite predictable but the buildup for the reason behind his intent was so so flat, just like how Samson confessed to his daughter about Corbin. after all the concealing, you are telling me the reason is just like that?? convince me!!!
with that being said, the romance was still cute, Corbin was absolutely gone for Lila the moment they met, but tbh at times, whatever he was doing felt performative. aint no way a guy would let someone have misconceptions of him just to save face for a person who he barely knew, at such a great expense of his reputation and the person directly working with him as a COO.
thank you to Ani Thomas and The House of Heart Lit for this ARC
July 16, 2026
I enjoyed this one overall! I thought the progression of the relationship was really well done and felt natural. I liked watching the walls slowly come down between the characters, and there was a good mix of romance, tension, and angst throughout the story.
I also really enjoyed the unique plot surrounding the distillery and whiskey-making career. The author clearly did an extensive amount of research, and you could tell she really knew what she was writing about. I loved learning about the whiskey-making process and felt like it added something different and interesting to the story.
I loved the side characters and the family dynamics, too. There are so many characters I’m excited to learn more about, and I can’t wait for their books!
There was an insane amount of drama in this book. I kept wanting to get to the end to figure out who was doing what, only to be hit with even more drama. 😂 There were definitely plenty of twists, secrets, and things happening to keep me invested.
My biggest issue was the pacing. I felt like all of the really exciting things happened toward the end, while the middle was filled with quite a bit that I felt could have been skimmed. I still enjoyed the story and the characters, but I did find myself wanting the pace to pick up at times.
Overall, this was a solid start to the series, and I’m definitely interested in continuing on with the side characters’ stories!
Thanks for the ARC!
I also really enjoyed the unique plot surrounding the distillery and whiskey-making career. The author clearly did an extensive amount of research, and you could tell she really knew what she was writing about. I loved learning about the whiskey-making process and felt like it added something different and interesting to the story.
I loved the side characters and the family dynamics, too. There are so many characters I’m excited to learn more about, and I can’t wait for their books!
There was an insane amount of drama in this book. I kept wanting to get to the end to figure out who was doing what, only to be hit with even more drama. 😂 There were definitely plenty of twists, secrets, and things happening to keep me invested.
My biggest issue was the pacing. I felt like all of the really exciting things happened toward the end, while the middle was filled with quite a bit that I felt could have been skimmed. I still enjoyed the story and the characters, but I did find myself wanting the pace to pick up at times.
Overall, this was a solid start to the series, and I’m definitely interested in continuing on with the side characters’ stories!
Thanks for the ARC!
July 24, 2026
I knew by the first few chapters, I was going to love Corbin and Lila’s story. First off, Corbin is the biggest green flag/ Golden Retriever guy and my heart melted when he fell first! The lust and the yearning in this book was so good and I found myself constantly laughing and smiling when these two were on the page together.
Corbin and Lila are both whisky/bourbon distillers and when Corbin’s company buys Lila’s father’s company there is immediate tension. Lila, a female in a male dominated profession, has always had to have her walls up and learned to grow tough skin. But Corbin will show her, he’s on her side and give her the confidence to realize she is just as important and influential as her male counterparts.
My new favorite thing in romance books is text threads. I know this isn’t a new concept, I’m just now obsessed with them. In “Hidden Hearts” the Blackwood brothers have a text thread and I couldn’t stop laughing, especially when the brothers would harass Corbin about Lila. I can definitely see how this series will continue and cannot wait to read about the other brother’s love stories too!
If you love romance books with a man that falls first, a hotel room with “one bed”, a golden retriever MMC and a black cat FMC, a small town setting, and funny brothers and female friends, then you need to check out “Hidden Hearts.”
Corbin and Lila are both whisky/bourbon distillers and when Corbin’s company buys Lila’s father’s company there is immediate tension. Lila, a female in a male dominated profession, has always had to have her walls up and learned to grow tough skin. But Corbin will show her, he’s on her side and give her the confidence to realize she is just as important and influential as her male counterparts.
My new favorite thing in romance books is text threads. I know this isn’t a new concept, I’m just now obsessed with them. In “Hidden Hearts” the Blackwood brothers have a text thread and I couldn’t stop laughing, especially when the brothers would harass Corbin about Lila. I can definitely see how this series will continue and cannot wait to read about the other brother’s love stories too!
If you love romance books with a man that falls first, a hotel room with “one bed”, a golden retriever MMC and a black cat FMC, a small town setting, and funny brothers and female friends, then you need to check out “Hidden Hearts.”
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