Hidden Away

Hearts of Montana #2

by Jennie Marts

Secrets have a way of revealing themselves….

Right after a fire breaks out in her diner, a phone call changes Cherry Hill’s life. The tragic death of her cousin leaves Cherry sole guardian of her eight-year-old nephew. But the upper crust side of the Hill family deems her unfit and is determined to take Sam away from her. The only one on her side is the sexy sheriff, Taylor Johnson, the man who broke her heart nine years ago when he left town.

Taylor Johnson has sworn to protect the citizens of Broken Falls, but should that extend to a fake engagement to the woman who captured his heart so long ago? It doesn’t take long for his pretend feelings to turn real for both Cherry and her adorable nephew, Sam.
But Cherry’s been hiding a secret from Taylor that could rip this new family apart…

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Westerns, Fiction, Second Chance Romance, Contemporary

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 16, 2015

About the author

Jennie Marts is a USA Today bestselling author of award-winning books filled with love, laughter, and always a happily ever after. She loves genre-mashups, and her books range from western romance to cozy mysteries but all have the charm and appeal of quirky small-town life. Living out her own happily ever after in the mountains of Colorado, she’s addicted to Diet Coke, adores Cheetos, and believes you can’t have too many books, shoes, or friends.

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hidden Away is book two in the Hearts of Montana series by Jennie Marts. This book was generously provided to me in exchange for an honest review by the author.



Cherry Hill has lived her whole life in Broken Falls, Montana. She was cared for by her grandparents and in turn, took care of them in their final days. They left their diner to her in their will and Cherry has put everything she has in to trying to make a success of it. But on this day, things aren’t going very well. A grease fire has broken out in the kitchen that went through the ceiling to her apartment above the diner. As she is standing there watching the firemen put out the fire, her phone rings and her world simply stops.




Taylor Johnson is the new sheriff in Broken Falls. He is also a volunteer fireman. He and Cherry have a past. They were childhood friends which turned into high school sweethearts. They were in love. They were each other’s first everything. But as soon as he graduated, Taylor needed to get out of Broken Falls. So he enlisted, and he left Cherry. That was nine years ago. Now he is back. He has never forgotten Cherry. No one has ever meant anything to him like she did. When the job opened up in town, he decided it was time to come home. His dad still runs the family ranch and Taylor misses his life there. But more than that, he has hopes of reconnecting with Cherry.



“How could one woman affect him so deeply? And after all these years? Because she wasn’t just any woman. She was Cherry, his first crush, his first love. And the last woman he had truly given his heart to.”

He saw her take the phone call on that day, and saw her run away and jump into her car. It was instinct to follow her. Something was obviously wrong.

Cherry’s cousin who is also her best friend, has been in a car accident, killing her and her husband. Their eight year old son is now an orphan. Cherry has been named legal guardian of little Sam. Wait until you meet this little boy. I fell in love with Sam immediately. This little boy is an eight year old with an old soul. He completely stole my heart.



Now we meet the rest of the Hill family. This family’s cruelty completely shocked me. The way they treated Cherry was horrible. They let her know immediately that they were in no way going to allow her to take guardianship of Sam. That they deemed her unfit and unable to provide for him. Taylor had accompanied Cherry to the hospital and it’s a good thing. He gave her the strength to stand up to these awful people. But what could she say to all of their accusations? They were right. Her diner just suffered a fire. Her apartment was also damaged. Where would she live? How would she provide for Sam? In steps Taylor when he informed them all that he and Cherry had been secretly engaged and that they would be living on his farm!

This book!!! I was completely hooked from the first page. Taylor and Cherry together were so perfect. But can Cherry ever trust Taylor again after he left her nine years ago? And Cherry has a secret, a very big secret. If she tells Taylor, will he ever forgive her? Or, will he just leave again?

“Nine years ago, she’d lost the two things she’d loved the most in the world. And now both of them were in the same room with her, back in her life, and she didn’t know what she was going to do with either of them.”



As Cherry and Taylor try to make their fake engagement look real, it doesn’t take long for all the old feelings to re-emerge. But with an eight year old boy grieving, a family that wants to take him away, a diner that needs repairing, and a huge secret looming over their heads, how could this ever work? Dare she get her hopes up?



This book was just fabulous, from the first page to the very last. And what an ending it was!!! I loved it all. These endearing characters will be with me for a long time.

“She tasted the same. Kissing her lips felt like coming home.”

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cherry and Taylor were high school sweethearts until Taylor enlisted in the army without telling Cherry and left her. Now Taylor is back in town and he's the new sheriff. When Cherry's apartment catches on fire things go from bad to worse when she gets a call right after letting her know her cousin and her husband died in a car accident leaving her their son, Sam. With a family that doesn't think Cherry is capable of raising Sam, her family promises to fight for custody and Taylor steps in faking an engagement with Cherry to give her more stability. Little does Taylor know, the little boy that he is helping Cherry protect is actually his son - he got Cherry pregnant before he left town and she gave the baby up for adoption to her cousin.

There was so much drama in this story. Cherry has an awful family who seem to be more concerned with saying hurtful things to her than finding a way to help Sam through the death of his parents. I enjoyed this story, I liked the second-chance romance between Taylor and Cherry although I think Taylor should have had to grovel a little more for walking away from Cherry all those years ago. Overall, I did enjoy this emotional story and look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**

[Elle G. Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book via the publishers at netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

:: 4.5 Heartfelt Stars ::

This is an AWESOME romance read that will keep you gripping the pages (or your reading device) so hard that your knuckles turn white. I was really rooting for the characters and VERY pleased to see that everything turns out good in the end. I love me an HEA and this one has exactly that! While I have never read a book by Jennie Marts before, I will definitely be picking up her other books (especially those in this series) in the near future.

I love me some small town country books! YAY for this one.

The book centers around a woman named Cherry whose life has been pretty difficult. Her family have no faith in her abilities and they do not accept her for who she is. The only family that truly cares for her feelings is her cousin Stacy. So when she passes away and leaves her son in the care of Cherry, her world turns upside down. Is this due to her family difficulties? Yes, that and other things. Things that she has kept secret for 8 years.

Taylor is a charming, small town sheriff. He is also Cherry’s high school sweetheart, the one who ran away when his life got tough when he was 17. So when Cherry pops back up in his life old feelings suddenly resurface and spark ignite. There is no denying the love they once had and both are thrown back together. But will the two be able to make it work this time? Will secrets and family issues keep them apart? Well, you will have to read to find out. Just be warned, you will swoon, you will get angry, and you may shed a few tears. This is certainly one book you don’t want to miss out on! It is unique, beautifully written, and smart. I cannot wait to pick up another book by Jennie Marts. Pick this one up!

You can find out more here on my blog: www.prettylittlebookreviews.com

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Hidden Away was a heartfelt second chance love story.

I was a little torn on how to rate this book, there were parts I liked then others not so much.
I felt towards the end the drama was a little much and to be honest not needed.
The storyline was good, it held my interest right from the start and the characters were very relatable.

Over this was a good afternoon read.

Thank you Entangled Select for the advance copy.

[Char (1RadReader59) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hooked me from the very beginning. The events unfolded at such a rate and with such emotion that it grabs hold of your emotions.
Cherry Hill comes from a well to do family that thinks they’re the end all be all. Thank goodness she always thought because her grandparents were loving and caring she was just like everyone else kind. The head of the family now that her grandmother passed is her Aunt Bea. She looks like someone who sucked a lemon, has no personality, and sits as if she has a rod in her back.
Cherry’s father married her mother and had her and her mom left them both but everyone blames her for their break up. Or at least for them being together. Then her father left her with her grandparents who took care of her as he fell into the bottle. They took great care of the same way she took care of them all the way until the end of their lives. They willed her their restaurant that had been in the family which angered Aunt Bea and her family. All except Stacy, Reed’s sister who was not only Cherry’s cousin but her best friend. No one knew of this there was a secret that Stacy, her grandmother and Cherry shared and no one knew.
Someone she had gone to school with and had been love with since she was young had moved back to town. She had been trying to avoid him since he moved back which was really hard. You see Taylor Johnson is the new Sheriff in town. Being she owned the local diner it would be crazy to think that she wouldn’t run into him or that he wouldn’t stop in to eat. But the seriously didn’t start dating until before their senior year in high school. But the night of their senior prom they had an after party just the two of them where they took each other virginity.
At around that same time Taylor’s mom had been ill with a disease that was taking her life and when she passed he found it hard to adjust. So, after graduation they had been fighting a lot due to his tension and grief. Without saying anything to her he up and signed papers to join the service he told her goodbye and that he needed time away from the small town and he needed this.
When she finds herself in a bad situation she texts him twice and then its crunch time. Time to make big girl decisions…
Eight years later…on the day there is a fire that causes major damage at her restaurant she runs into Taylor as what? Volunteer firefighter. Wasn’t it bad enough he came back into town as the new Sheriff? Guess not. As she was trying to put out the fire she burnt her arm so after the fire he sees her with the EMT working on her and he ask about her. Before she can really say anything she gets a call then jumps in her old beat up VW and hauls ass out of the parking lot.
Taylor gets worried and drives out after her good thing because she has broken down and is sobbing on the side of the rode. He ask and she says Stacy, Greg and their little boy were in a car accident. The boy was the only one who made it out. He says okay come let me take you home she starts fighting him. She says no that Stacy left her as his guardian and he could be scared looking for them or her. So he said he would take her to the hospital. When they get there, the other side of the Hill family the rich side, boy do they rake her over the coals calling her not fit. Not good enough, a tramp, and low life.
Taylor gets so mad he said she is none of those things, plus she’s not alone, she has him and that they are getting married. Oh Boy!
This book was so good there is so much love in this couple not only for each other but for this little boy. Reed the villain is perfect and Aunt Bea is too. I give this book 5 stars. Provided by Netgalley.com.
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[☆Angel☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copyright Night Owl Reviews

4.5 Stars

Hidden Away is the second book in the Hearts of Montana series, which can be read as a standalone. I easily focused all of my attention on this second chance romance.

Almost a decade has passed since Taylor Johnson left the small town of Broken Falls, Montana. He abandoned Cherry Hill, whom he later realized was the love of his life. Now Taylor is back as the town's new sheriff, and a little did he know that stepping in to protect Cherry against her atrocious family would earn him another shot at winning her heart and he certainly never anticipated the secret she's been hiding all these years.

To see my full review, please click the link below:
https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Re...

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh boy - talk about everything seeming to go wrong in your life, that certainly seems to be true for Cherry Hill! Nine years ago, as a teenager, she went out with Taylor Johnson - till he disappeared to enlist and then never got in touch again, despite her texting him asking him to call because she then discovered she was pregnant. Pregnant, alone, she took her grandma’s advice and let her cousin and her husband adopt the son she gave birth to, not letting anyone else know that Cherry is his real mother.

When her grandma died she left the family bakery to Cherry and that’s just caught fire when the story starts . . . and one of the folks that turns up to help put it out is the same Taylor Johnson who has now returned as the Sherriff. Then Cherry’s phone rings with news that her cousin and husband have tragically been killed in a car crash - and Cherry is now the guardian of their adopted son. Her car breaks down and Taylor ends up taking her to the hospital where we are introduced to the rest of her family - oh boy are they awful!! They are also determined that Cherry won’t get custody of Sam, unaware that she’s actually his mother, and Taylor steps up to defend her and claims they’re engaged! Now there’s a fake engagement, she grieving for her best friend and cousin, her home and business are fire wrecked, her child is now her own unless other members of her family make good on their threats, her ex, who is still the love of her life, is pretending to be her boyfriend and he doesn’t know that Sam is his son!

This is a tangled web that makes a delightful page turner. I was rooting for things to actually start going right for Cherry from the start but they just keep going wrong! Don’t expect this to be a straight forward read to a HEA, it is anything but! There’s a cute dog, a shoot out, threats, verbal and physical abuse from family, a runaway to find and even kidnapping to deal with! A gripping, fast paced, enthralling and entertaining second chance romance that I have no hesitation in highly recommending!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley, too, for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for this, an honest review.

[Big Joe Rossi · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the day Cherry Hill’s diner burns down she also discovers that her cousin and her cousin's husband have died in a car accident. Their son is injured but alive, and she has been named legal guardian. Leaving the fire scene she rushes off to the hospital a few towns over. When her car dies she is at her breaking point. Luckily, Sheriff Taylor Johnson, he ex-high school sweetheart was at the fire and seeing her in the state she was in followed.



At the hospital she faces off with her nasty old bitty aunt, her stuck up a-hole cousin and his hoity-toity wife, all agreeing she isn't fit to care for the child. While they attack her for her lack of...well everything...he steps in and says they are together, they are engaged, that she and Sam, her nephew will stay with him.

Sam is an old soul who steals the scenes. Cherry and Taylor rekindle a flame that truly never died, broken yes, but never died. There are many bumps in the road and one huge potential road block.

A really good read.

[Jonel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marts takes small town romance to a new level with this novel. She sets the scene well, lending itself to the intricate story of the characters’ lives. I enjoyed how Marts takes the general form of a second chance romance but gives it a twist, making it all her own.

I enjoyed the way that Marts combines a second chance romance with a new start for her characters. It was a unique mix that lent extra complexity to their lives. Marts developed their personalities individually, creating two extremely well rounded people that I loved getting to know. At the same time, neither were perfect. I enjoyed the jagged edges that Marts not only leaves, but actually points out in her characters. It made them so much more real.

This was a fun and emotional second chance romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was my first novel by Marts, but it won’t be my last.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed, cried ugly tears and cheered while reading this book. It is a delight to read. Full review to follow.....

[1-Click Addict Support Group · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, man. I LOVE second chance romances, and between the catchy blurb and cute cover on Hidden Away, this one was something of a no-brainer for me. I wanted sweet and sexy with feels...and I got it.

It's been nine years since Taylor Johnson left Cherry Hill behind in their small town of Broken Falls. But now he's back, and a fake engagement to help Cherry fight her family when a phone call flips her life upside down—and leaves her guardian to her eight year old nephew—is least he can do, right?

Except Cherry has a secret that she hasn't shared...and as her fake relationship with Taylor starts to become all too real, she has to tell him—before he finds out for himself.

I started this one thinking it would be a feel-good, gentle kind of story—and it was, in a way. But that didn't stop it from giving me a few rather emotional moments—in the middle of a toy store, no less.

I really enjoyed Hidden Away, with its hidden depth and sexy Sheriff, Taylor. Cherry's secret, revealed early to the reader, was interesting and a little twisty, and a great set-up for the rest of the story. I can't say that stopped me from wanting to cuss at her for not being more open with her man though, but neither did it stop me from liking her passion and feeling protective of her when the chips were down.

While I found the ending a little too rushed—as it edged closer to the dreaded 100%, I didn't really know whether we'd get a complete story (we did)—overall, I was completely charmed by this small town and both Taylor and Cherry. And picking up more books in this series seems like another no-brainer to me. ~ Beth, 4 stars

[Sheryl C. Nash · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Entangled Publishing*

[Nichole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am such a sucker for second chances!! Loved it!! But got to know when the next one is coming out... Cash needs his story told

[Anaïs · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Fifty Shades of Books

2 out of 5 Stars

*** ARC granted in exchange for an honest review ***

Cherry Hill is going through the worst day of her life: her diner has almost burned down, and she just got terrible news about her cousin being in a car crash. But for some reason, Taylor Johnson, her ex-boyfriend who left her brokenhearted years ago is back in town, and hell-bent on looking after her as the town's new sheriff - except what he does is way beyond sheriff-duty!

What I loved about this book:

It was lighthearted and steamy

What I felt needed improvement:

The storyline didn't always make sense
Some things came too easy (and felt unrealistic)

Hidden Away is one of those small-town country-life themed books. Its story is set in the same location as Tucked Away, and while there is a slight interference with the Tucked Away characters, Hidden Away is a story on its own.

There's not much of a prologue, and the book throws you right into the deep end with an opening scene including Cherry trying to keep her diner from burning down.

I really don't know what to think about this book. I liked it because it was steamy and "cute", but so many part just annoys me or seemed a bit over the top.

One thing that annoyed me was the fact that the reason why Cherry and Taylor separated in the first place was kind of ridiculous. Especially given the fact that both were and are still totally pining for each other. Why leave someone you love and can't stop thinking of without trying to iron things out and make them work? And then it takes them 8 years to get back together?

The story around Taylor helping Cherry by making everyone believe she has a stable relationship with him so it is easier for her to keep guardianship of her cousin's son is cute. And brings along a lot of fun with a romantic touch. But all in all, the whole thing just felt too easy. Cherry and Taylor confessed to their feelings quite quickly and well, they all fell in love with the boy, and they had just too many people on their side. Even the little boy was cooperative as hell.

I am not saying the storyline was lacking in difficulties and drama, because Cherry's estranged family was psycho enough, but I simply feel that apart from this main event (her family trying to take her cousin's son from her) everything was just too easy.

But oh well, it was still a nice and relaxing read even though it didn't really resonate with me on a deeper level.

   



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[Kate Anders · Rating 4 out of 5]

To read this review and others like it check out my site at www.homelovebooks.com

I adore second chance romances, especially when it is one of those first loves situations. I think everyone can identify with the whole, I wonder if things would have worked out if we had stayed together. That being said, this book took me through the ringer, I mean I was sad, I was happy, I was heartbroken, this book just pulls your emotional heartstrings all over the place.

First things first, be prepared, this book starts of sad. Yes the synopsis does warn you that Cherry’s dies and that’s how she ends up with her nephew, but man oh man does it totally just break your heart. From the moment that Cherry gets the news, to when she has to tell her nephew and has to basically bring him into her life that is kind of falling apart as it is, man these two had it tough. I have to say the thing I admired the most about Cherry is how she just keeps going. Life sure gets a kick out of knocking her down, first with the fire in her diner, to her cousin (who is also her close friend) dying, to having to fight off her family who wants to take away her nephew from her; but honestly Cherry doesn’t give up. I loved how hard working she is, and how great she is with her nephew. There is of course some family secret stuff going on in this story, and while i would love to talk about it here, I think it is just going to ruin the story for you, so I won’t. But what I will say is that it is a secret that totally rocks the boat, and some people may have problems with it and some people will see it coming, and others may really like it, in this case, it worked for me.

Now for our lovely hero, Taylor. Now it’s a well known fact with me that I seriously enjoy a hot guy who carries a gun a serves lady justice. Now Taylor has a bit of a history with Cherry, but he is a good guy through and through. Part of what I loved about Taylor was how willing he was to just volunteer to help Cherry out when things in her life start imploded, she never even asks, he is just there for her and helps out. But the real kicker for me with Taylor is how good he is with Cherry’s nephew. Watching Cherry and Taylor get this kid to smile and laugh again is just so great to watch, and really just made me smile.

This book really took me on an emotional rollercoaster, and I have to say I really enjoyed it. I love when a book is able to pull me like this one did, and honestly I love when their is a family element to romance books, what can I say I am sucker for building a family.

[April Symes · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an emotional read, with heart and hope. The book starts out with Cherry having a horrible day- things aren’t going well and she gets a terrible phone call that has her watching as a grease fire goes out of control, and goes through the ceiling to her apartment above the diner. Fireman are putting out the fire when she gets a phone call that changes her life forever. She runs away from the scene and jump into her car and drive away, drive to where her life has changed forever.
Taylor Johnson is the new sheriff in Broken Falls and is also a volunteer fireman. He pulls up just as Cherry gets the call and he sees her take it and run off. They had a past, a history. He and Cherry were each other’s 1st for everything and then Taylor left Cherry behind when he decided to get out of Broken Falls. He enlisted in the military and left Cherry behind. He has come to realize that no one has meant more to him than Cherry does and he wants a chance to see where he stands with Cherry, to try and reconnect with her. He ends up following Cherry to the hospital and sees just in time her family treating her so horribly .
Cherry finds out her cousin who is her best friend and her husband have just died in a car accident. Their 8 yr old son is now all alone. Cherry is now his guardian but her family doesn’t want her to have him. They tell her she is unfit and all a bunch of stupid nonsense. They treated her like she wasn’t even family but suddenly Taylor stepped in and spoke up for her and stated they were engaged , spoke about it being a secret and they would be living on his family’s farm. Poor Cherry, all the shocks coming at once. Then this is where the twists and turns coming in. She has secrets that pertain to Taylor and it can break them up because Taylor wants to make up to her his leaving but once her secret comes out, he may leave her again and for good. The flow is good in the story and I felt Taylor shouldn’t have left her 9 years ago but the emotions are real and you can understand the pain of both MC. The ending is fantastic and I will definitely read this author again.
My rating: 4.0 stars

***A gifted copy was provided by the publisher via NETGALLEY for my honest review****

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the full review on Bookaholics Not-So-Anonymous.

Note: This ARC was provided by Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Hidden Away is the second novel in the Hearts of Montana series from author Jennie Marts and is a second chance romance between Cherry Hill and Taylor Johnson, both of whom were introduced in the first book, Tucked Away. The secret Cherry is keeping from Taylor is one I guessed from the moment I read the blurb and I was actually pleasantly surprised that it was revealed early on in the story. Of course, that revelation is reserved for the eyes of the readers, and it's that one vital revelation involving Taylor that you'll want to see play out. Admittedly, I liked this second story more than I did the first one and it had a great deal to do with the fact that the focus was mostly on Cherry and Taylor's story. There weren't a myriad of other side stories trying to vie for the reader's attention unnecessarily, so kudos to the author.

Cherry and Taylor were a good couple, but their parting was particularly painful for Cherry and I would have wanted Taylor to, at the very least, have made more of an effort to win her affections again rather than Cherry giving in too easily. The secret she keeps from him is pretty easy to figure out and I understood why she kept it from him for as long as she did, but then when everything happened, I would have expected her to have told said something when they were engaged. The supporting characters were pretty good as well, and I definitely liked seeing the ones I was familiar with from the first book. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that Cash Walker will get his story told. All in all, I enjoyed Hidden Away and will keep an eye out for future installments in the Hearts of Montana series. I'm giving this one four stars. ♥

[Eva Millien · Rating 4 out of 5]

The engagement was supposed to be fake, but it doesn’t take long for Taylor Johnson’s pretend feelings to become real for both Cherry and her adorable nephew, Sam until a secret threatens to tear them apart in this captivating romance.

Cherry Hill is now the sole guardian of her nephew and with the upper crust of the Hill family trying to take him away, she has no choice but to accept the help of the man who broke her heart and the reader can’t help but get pulled into the story as Taylor and Cherry begin to form a new family. The chemistry between Cherry and Taylor is a smoldering inferno of heat but this relationship has quite a few issues, like trust, secrets and the past that adds lots of emotional turbulence that captures the heart. Strong compelling characters are easily related to while the fast paced, smooth flowing plot captivates readers with suspense, turmoil and romance.

Expectation builds throughout the story as the reader waits for the other shoe to drop because of Cherry’s secret that she’s been hiding and tension builds as Cherry’s family connive to take Sam away from Cherry in any way they can. The well written scenes and details bring the story to life making it easy for the reader to get caught up in the exciting events as they are drawn farther in to the story.

First, let me start off by saying that I have not read Tucked Away…yet, but that did not stop me from enjoying Hidden Away so it can be read as a stand-alone story although it does mention bits and pieces of the events in the previous story, which has enticed me to read it, especially as the Broken Falls, Montana town is a small community that looks out for each other, so I can’t wait to visit again.

[Raecharmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cherry Hill's life changes drastically in one day. A fire in her diner and then a phone call notifying her of a death in the family leaving her the sole guardian to her nephew it just was not a good day for her at all. On top of that her ex has moved back to town. Taylor Johnson has moved back home to be the sheriff of his home town. He is called to the diner about the fire and is there as more bad news is placed on Cherry's shoulders. Following her when she drives off from the diner he is there when she has a break down from everything happening at the same time. He takes her to see her family and witnesses first hand how her family treats her. The family makes it clear that they aren't going to allow her to take her nephew and that they plan to fight for guardianship. Taylor steps in and claims that they have been seeing each other again and that its serous again. So serous in fact that they've been secretly engaged. Surprised by what Taylor has said Chloe does nothing to correct him. As they work together to maintain their fake engagement things start to change making what started out as a temporary fix to a bad situation into something more and real. Will secrets keep them apart or will they stronger from them. I loved this story it has strong characters and a great story. A very emotional story that will draw you in until you can't put it down. I would recommend this to any of my book friends.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

When your world comes crashing down, who will be there to help you?
Cherry lives in a small town and is making a life out of what she has. A diner left to her by her grandparents with an attached apartment above , a beat up old VW bug and a town of friends that will do anything for her.
One day, her diner goes up in flames and her best friend and cousin dies in a horrible accident leaving her a spunky 8 year old to take care of.
With everything crashing down around her, a knight in shining armor named Taylor offers his help. Taylor, the town sheriff, a man she has a past with and is not ready to forgive. They both can't fight the feelings from the past, but will a secret she has kept hidden from Taylor cause those feelings to end for good?

This is the second book in the Hearts of Montana series. This was a great , fun-loving book, with some surprises and suspense to keep the pages turning. I read this in one night and could not put it down until the end. The characters are fleshed out nicely and they become real in my mind. I can get a clear picture of them and they make me feel emotion. Essentially if a book can't get me to feel anything it was a wasted effort and this book did not disappoint. A must read for anyone looking for love, small town antics, laughter and some suspense.

I received an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

A second chance romance, with two characters that have matured since their earlier days. Cherry has had the worse day of her life, her diner caught on fire and then to find out the her cousin and her husband has died in a car accident and has left Cherry guardian for their son, Sam. To top it off, her high school flame, Taylor has returned to Broken Falls, Montana as the new town sheriff. The chemistry between Taylor and Cherry is hot. Cherry has a big secret that she has kept from Taylor since he left town nine years ago.

This book kept me turning the pages. Love the small town atmosphere of how the town comes together helping Cherry. Cherry has become a very strong person, she works very hard for what she has. Plenty of drama and emotions, keep your kleenex handy. Loved Sam and Rex.

I received this book from netgalley for an honest review.

[Terry Gregson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you love to laugh? Do you love romance? If you do, Jennie Marts is the author for you! Hidden Away made me laugh, made me cry, made me sigh with frustration, and made me feel hopeful!! The characters become friends and the town makes me want to move there! I read this book in one day. I couldn't put it down. And when I finished it, I felt like something was missing. I wanted to revisit the friends I made right away! But alas, I have to wait for the next book to be released. If you haven't read anything by Jennie Marts, I suggest you read one of her books now. It doesn't matter which series you read, because I can guarantee you that once you read one of her books, you will be wanting to read everything she has written. So, go forth and read something, anything by Jennie. You won't be disappointed!!

[LunalandBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of Hidden Away by Jennie Marts in exchange for an honest review.
This book was absolutely stunning. It's beautiful second chance love story. My heart broke for the main characters and you could tell straight away that they were both good people who had been placed in terrible situations. I was invested in their happily ever after from page one and I don't think there is much more you could ask for in a romance book.
I was completely hooked from beginning to end. Taylor and Cherry together were so utterly perfect that i only wanted the best for them. However, can Cherry ever learn to trust Taylor again after he left her nine years ago? And Cherry has a very big secret that could tear them apart. If she tells Taylor, could he ever find it in his heart to forgive her? Or, will he just leave again?
Such a beautiful story and one I certainly recommend.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a true gem of a story. I love books that can play in my mind like a movie, picturing each scene perfectly. Taylor and Cherry's story was full of emotion, laughter, serious flirtation, grief, friendship, community, family, betrayal, forgiveness, and love. The way they were reunited was a strange occurrence that led to something real and special. Their journey to each other and their fight for Sam was filled with bumps along the way, but taught the lessons of never giving up, life is too short, and love matters most. I absolutely loved their story from beginning to the end.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this story.
There is nothing sweeter than a second chance novel, this novel was nothing but second chances. It pulls you in from the first page and you cling on in the hopes that Cherry wins in the end.
I swooned, cried and sat on the edge of my seat while I waited to see what Taylor would do? The chemisty between these two are unbelieveable and with their history, it's hard to see how it is all going to turn out.
This is one sweet candy romance you don't want to miss out on reading....
I devoured this book over 4 hours.... It is a must read.... I can't wait for the next book in the series.....

[Bette Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome story!! Filled with emotion it had me crying, laughing, and awwwing all over the place. The dynamics between Cherry, Taylor, and Sam are beyond heartwarming and I was cheering for them to find their HEA all the way through the story. Cherry's family and the nastiness they brought just had me angry! As with any good romance though, love can get you through the toughest times!

I just love this small town series and can't recommend it enough and if you haven't read the first one in the series (they are both completely standalone) I recommend that one too!

[ysar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our Rating:

Cherry’s life has always been simple, but for the most part, she’s been happy running the diner her grandparents left her and carving out a niche for herself among her lifelong neighbors in Broken Falls. But everything changes overnight when her cousin is killed in an accident, leaving Cherry to care for her young nephew just as her diner is badly damaged by a grease fire. When Cherry’s ability to take care of the boy is called into question, the man who once broke her heart steps up to help, putting Cherry in a precarious situation. She stands to lose her heart all over again when he leaves… or when he finds out the truth she’s been hiding all these years.

But... There was one point toward the end that didn’t make a lot of sense to me. Cherry’s cousin Reed pulls a pretty awful move that clearly falls into assault and kidnapping territory. He’s not some psycho who meant for it to be that way; he’s just an entitled bully who thinks he can intimidate people into doing things his way. But the law is the law. Yet, neither Cherry nor Sam even mentally voiced that fact, much less played that card with Reed. It’s not that I expected them to figuratively hit him back that hard, but being that Sam’s an officer of the law, I would have expected him to at least bring it up, even if just to say he and Cherry weren’t going to press charges. It didn’t ruin the book at all, but it was just a bit odd the way it was disregarded without any real explanation.

Judging Covers: I am loving these covers. It was the cover to Tucked Away that had me wanting to read the first book, and this one is no different. And aside from it just making the book attractive to readers like me, it’s clear the designer/publisher/random person involved is sticking with a theme. And I have to say, that’s important. Being constantly bombarded with reading options like I am, it’s easy for me to overlook something good. So I love it when a series sticks with a general design, making sure I notice it looks a lot like another book I loved and cluing me into the next book in the series being out. I’m sure I would have found this one eventually, given that I’m basically turning into a Jennie Marts fangirl, but it was the cover that jumped out at me when I was browsing, and you can bet I didn’t want to miss this story..

The Verdict: We first met Cherry in the Tucked Away, but we didn’t get more than a brief introduction to her before that book ended, so it was interesting to see the less two-dimensional side of her in Hidden Away. But while there are probably thousands of romances out there with plots predicated on a man finding out he fathered a child with a woman he left years ago, Jennie Marts throws in a twist that makes this one altogether different.

Cherry just might be having the worst day ever. A grease fire in her diner puts her temporarily out of business, injures her arm, and brings her face to face again with the boy — now a man — who broke her heart nine years ago. But that’s nothing compared to the phone call she gets telling her that her cousin was killed in a car accident, and Cherry’s been named as her nephew’s guardian. A few miles into racing to the hospital, her car breaks down, and Cherry finds herself riding shotgun with the same man she’s been trying to avoid since he came back to town. As if that’s not enough, though, the family that has gathered at the hospital is convinced that Cherry’s not fit to raise Sam and does their very best to intimidate her into giving up custody. And that’s when things get really interesting.

As it turns out, Sam isn’t just Cherry’s nephew. He’s the son she gave up for adoption shortly after Taylor left town nine years ago, so her determination to keep him now is rooted in more than simply loyalty to her cousin. Taylor, however, hasn’t got a clue, though he steps up to help Cherry fend off her awful extended family, and he knows he feels an immediate connection to the boy. But while Cherry’s relationship with Taylor heats up rather quickly, her heart is held back by several things.

For one, they’re only really together for appearances, to ward off her cousin Reed, his wife Olivia, and their Aunt Bea, all of whom believe Sam would be better off with them. Whatever feelings Cherry may have for Taylor, she knows their being together is only temporary, and she’s afraid to let herself completely fall again. There’s also the matter of his leaving in the first place. She simply doesn’t trust him to stick around this time, so she’s holding her heart back as best she can. And then, of course, there’s the matter of Sam. As much as she wants to tell Taylor the truth, she’s understandably worried about the consequences.

I think what makes Hidden Away stand out, aside from the great writing, is simply that Jennie Marts doesn’t play into the cliches that tend to plague romance. The most basic part of the plot might be standard, but nothing about what she does with it is. Cherry and Taylor’s breakup when they were teens was a matter of juvenile stupidity and general immaturity, and now that they’re back in the same vicinity, there’s no perfectly manicured she-devil trying to catch Taylor’s eye, no slightly psychotic but boring ex trying to win Cherry back, no one threatening to spill some dark secret that will ruin everything. It’s just life the way it could play out in reality, with a little believable drama and a big heap of happily ever after just over the horizon. It’s rare to find a contemporary romance that simply sticks to the story without throwing in all kinds of unnecessary crazy, so when I come across a series like this one, I’m following it to the very end.



***FicCentral received this book from Entangled Publishing (via NetGalley) for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Hearts of Montana series, and it follows Cherry Hill and Taylor Johnson, who were high school sweethearts trying to find their way back to each other. Taylor took off right after graduation, before Cherry could share some big news with him, and now that he’s back in town, she’s not sure she can trust he’ll stick around this time.

On top of that, Cherry’s world gets turned upside down when her cousin and her cousin’s husband die in a car accident, leaving Cherry with guardianship of their young son, Sam. As Cherry and Taylor try to rebuild what they had, they’re also dealing with relatives who want to take Sam away from her.

I really enjoyed how the relationships evolved — Cherry and Taylor easing back into each other’s lives, Cherry bonding with Sam, and even Taylor stepping into a role with Sam. The ending tied everything together in a really satisfying way.

[Rae Latte · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Cherry and Taylor were in high school they dreamed of a fairy tale ending. Then came the unthinkable and Taylor went into the military. Faced with a pregnancy and all alone she made a decision that would affect both her and her unborn child.

What will she do when tragedy strikes a second time and Taylor learns the truth? Can Cherry finally have her happy ending?

Great writing, loveable characters and a desire to drive off to a small town for some local diner food!
Don't miss this must read!

I received an advance reader copy for a fair and honest review.

[Kathy Dryden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Cherry and Taylor's story. It is heartbreaking from the first chapter. It also has romance and we're still in ranch country, so we have all the quirky animals to make us smile. Love Jennie's writing and these characters always become your friends. I read the audiobook.