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Heather Lindsay loves falling in love—even though her blueprint for romance has failed her time and time (and time) again. But now that she’s signed on to design an outdoor-wedding venue for her friend’s home renovation show, Heather’s found a new her career. Only it’s not long before she’s being distracted—by the hunkiest man who ever swaggered down the streets of Red Oak Falls.

The show’s new ranch manager, Waylon Peterson, a.k.a. Prince Harry in a cowboy hat, has every woman swooning. He’s also got a bad-boy rep that’s made him the hottest mess in town. In other words, he’s catnip for Heather, the Texan queen of bad choices. That’s why she’s steering clear—even with Waylon’s charm going full throttle.

Waylon is determined to trade one night stands for true love, but convincing Heather may be an impossible task. He’s ready to settle down, but can she get past her fear of settling and give love one more shot?

315 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 10, 2018

382 people are currently reading
696 people want to read

About the author

Kim Law

31 books836 followers
Kim Law is an award-winning bestselling author of contemporary romance. Kim writes epic love stories with heart, heat, and happily ever afters. Her novels are set mostly in small towns and contain a fun mix of drama, family & friends, and laughter. 😊 Her most recent release is Caught off Guard.

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The Wildes of Birch Bay:
Montana Inspired (The Wildes of Birch Bay, #.5) by Kim Law
Montana Cherries (The Wildes of Birch Bay, #1) by Kim Law Montana Rescue (The Wildes of Birch Bay, #2) by Kim Law Montana Mornings (The Wildes of Birch Bay, #3) by Kim Law Montana Mistletoe (The Wildes of Birch Bay, #4.5) by Kim Law Montana Dreams (The Wildes of Birch Bay, #4) by Kim Law Montana Promises (The Wildes of Birch Bay, #5) by Kim Law Montana Homecoming (The Wildes of Birch Bay #6) by Kim Law
Montana Ever After The Wildes of Birch Bay Book 8 (BONUS story) by Kim Law

The Davenports:
Caught on Camera (The Davenports,#1) by Kim Law Caught in the Act (The Davenports, #2) by Kim Law Caught off Guard (The Davenports Book 3) by Kim Law

Sugar Springs:
Sugar Springs (Sugar Springs, #1) by Kim Law Sweet Nothings (Sugar Springs, #2) by Kim Law Sprinkles on Top (Sugar Springs, #3) by Kim Law

Turtle Island:
Ex on the Beach (Turtle Island, #1) by Kim Law Hot Buttered Yum (Turtle Island, #2) by Kim Law [bc:Two Turtle Island Doves|5594867

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
Profile Image for ♥ WishfulMiss ♥ .
1,434 reviews115 followers
April 10, 2018
"It's an incredibly attractive quality, you know. Being romantic."

Heather and Waylon meet at a crossroads in their lives. Heather has sworn off men, her track record of falling in love with love (and the wrong man) has bitten her in the bum one too many times. At first Heather tries to steer clear of the much talked about hunky bachelor that is the new foreman on her friend's ranch, fearing he'd be too much of a temptation into her old and bad habit of instantly falling for the wrong man. But Waylon is a hard man to ignore.

Getting his life back on track after some regrettable mistakes in his past that cost him the custody of his daughter, Waylon has embraced small town life and is looking forward to finally settling down and getting his daughter back. Although he's kept his private life pretty private for a reason and hasn't dispelled any of the rumors regarding his bachelor status, when he finally meets Heather, he sets out to prove to her the talk around town about him, it just that, talk.

I got the impression that Heather was supposed to be the softhearted MC in this equation but Waylon was actually the one that stole the show. I loved him. He was such a kind, gentle and loving person. He was a hero that wasn't afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve.

"I don't want you just having fun with me. I want you falling hard for me.


He really was an amazing guy at it was pretty easy to fall hard for him. He was strong, yet vulnerable, charming and endearing. A combination that you don't see portrayed so often in romances. He was a guy that loved easily and devotedly. I loved how he pursued Heather and set out to be a man worthy of her. He's been burned in the past with his ex but he didn't let that turn him bitter or resentful. He opened himself up to the possibility of having something lasting and real with Heather, even knowing that it might not work out in the end.

My disconnect with this came from Heather. Throughout the whole book we get the constant reminder that Heather is considered the romantic and the softhearted one of the group. People are overprotective of her and paint her in a soft glow of innocence and naivete. But that's not the impression she left on me. What I got from it all was that she was too concerned with protecting herself and building walls around her heart that she never gave Waylon a chance. She might have been a romantic but her actions didn't show it.

This had the possibility of beings a memorable 5 star read but Heather's waffling back and forth with Waylon, her decision to run from him rather than confront her fears and self doubt seemed a cheap cop out. It broke my heart that Waylon put his heart on the line for Heather, wasn't afraid to expose his deeper feelings for her and when the sh!t hit the fan, Heather looked out for number one (herself) and he couldn't count on her when he needed her the most. I wish Heather had been more understanding (or . . .ironically, softhearted maybe?) with the man she supposedly loved.

Would I recommend?
For Waylon alone, yes. He was an awesome Hero, wish we'd have more MCs like him :)

* * * ARC provided for an honest review * * ***
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


SAFETY INFO:
Profile Image for Book Lover.
552 reviews43 followers
April 19, 2018
Heather Lindsay has not had good luck with men in the past. Three engagements that did not result in marriage. She lost her parents in a fire and has been looking for a relationship like the one she remembers they had. She is still trying to find her place in the world. She loves working with her foster sisters but wonders if there’s more she can do.

Waylon Peterson has not led a charmed life. His parents divorced when he was young. His father left and his mom did ok, but didn’t really want to be shackled to a kid. As he entered his teens, he began acting out, getting into trouble with his best friend Nikki. Waylon states he loved Nikki but wasn’t in love with her, they were best friends. If they weren’t dating anybody else they sometimes slept together and that’s how they ended up with their daughter. How messed up is that?! If Nikki was as addicted as Waylon says, I find it hard to believe she stopped cold turkey while she was pregnant without any problems, and didn’t do any drugs while pregnant. Waylon got his act together during Nikki’s pregnancy so he could be a stable, dependable dad for his kid.

Waylon was exactly Heather’s type, so she avoided meeting him for as long as possible. Once they meet, both are attracted. Waylon pursues while Heather can’t decide what she wants. Heather grated on my nerves a few times. Waylon was very patient with her.

This book moves slow and drags in parts. However we do get to see how Jill and Cal are making it work.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the author.
Profile Image for Vikki Vaught.
Author 12 books160 followers
April 9, 2018
I always know I'm in for a treat with a new release from Kim Law. When I received an invitation from the publisher, via Net-Galley, I eagerly agreed to read and review the second book in her new series, Deep in the Heart.
As with all Ms. Law's books, the characters are real and flawed, the plot is intriguing and there's plenty of emotions running high. I immediately became enmeshed in this story and remained engaged until the last page.

Heather's character is the queen of bad choices in relationships with men. I could feel her pain over her past and could really identify with her character. As a newly separated, soon to be divorced woman many years ago, I too saw the white picket fence and eternal love in every guy who asked me on a date. It's a hard fall when reality finally hits, and the dream turns into another broken heart yet again. Fortunately, for me and for Heather, our prince does, at last, come along!

Waylon's character is my kind of hero. While a little rough around the edges which sends off a bad boy image, underneath, he's a knight in the making. He's so determined to change his image and gain custody of his adorable daughter. He stole my heart from the first page.

The romance between Heather and Waylon burns hot, and I could see they were perfect for each other from their first encounter. While he had to work really hard to gain her trust, he does not give up.

If you enjoy a romance that will pull at your heartstrings and has you sighing, you will love Softhearted as much as I did. For me, this second book in the series has me eagerly awaiting the next book. Happy reading!
Profile Image for Shari.
1,859 reviews24 followers
April 10, 2018
The second book in the in the Deep in the Heart series. Loved, Heather and Waylon. Heather has had failed love relationships in the past, so here motto is "Say No". This gets very hard when she meets Waylon, the new ranch manager. Who could pass as a Prince Harry look a like, how can you can say no to that. Add in his little daughter, Rose, whom he is fighting for custody for. Then you have a side romance blossoming between Aunt Blu (she was Heather's foster mom) and Charlie (Waylon's dad), they are so cute.

One of my favorite parts is all the questions and answers that Waylon and Heather play in getting to know each other. I loved all of the characters and it left me smiling at the end. I highly recommend this book. It is part of series can be read as a stand alone. I read this book from the publisher through netgalley.
Profile Image for Under the Covers Book Blog.
2,840 reviews1,343 followers
May 21, 2018



I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


It seems like forever since I’ve read a Kim Law novel, and I was just thinking why she hadn’t come out with a book yet. When I looked, low and behold, this book was coming out. It’s actually only been 6 months since her last book. LOL. I guess I was missing her work.

I wasn’t sure what to think of Waylon. It seemed like he was all kinds of bad. I admit that the mysterious bad boy persona he portrayed was appealing and sexy, but I wasn’t sure I liked him for Heather. She has been hurt many times before and has the knack for picking the wrong guys. I actually assumed he will be one of those guys, but he proved to be a good guy who deserved an HEA with Heather. Waylon is sexy in more ways than one and a sweet guy at that.

Heather is lucky to have landed a guy like Waylon. While not perfect herself, she is sweet and kind-hearted. At times, a little naive. She had a hero complex and was easy to fall. However, she has matured and did things right this time around. She prioritized and loved herself first and foremost.

Softhearted had the right amount of sweet I needed. Like I mentioned, I didn’t think I would like Waylon and Heather in the beginning. Waylon had characteristics I avoided when I was dating, and I saw a naive me in Heather that I didn’t like so much. Somewhere along the way, they managed to win my heart. I love the growth Heather showed, and Waylon was just too sweet and too sexy to resist. The courtship was too dang cute, not to mention Heather is getting the man everybody wants was just satisfying to see. I love that they didn’t have to try to hard to make things work. They had obstacles, but the romance was not forced. Plus, Kim Law pulled the rug under me and made me fall for the irresistible Rose.

I also love getting an update about Cal and Jill, Trenton and Aunt Blu. I’m thinking Trenton will get her book next, but then, there was a romance blooming in Aunt Blu’s life, so maybe she’ll get a short story herself. In any case, I’m excited to read more from this series

*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Angela❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
Profile Image for Jackie.
3,956 reviews128 followers
March 29, 2018
Book Info
Paperback, 320 pages
Expected publication: April 10th 2018 by Montlake Romance
ISBN 1503901343 (ISBN13: 9781503901346)
Edition Language English
Series Deep in the Heart #2
Other Editions (3)
Source:Netgalley EARC

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BOOK BLURB


Heather Lindsay loves falling in love—even though her blueprint for romance has failed her time and time (and time) again. But now that she’s signed on to design an outdoor-wedding venue for her friend’s home renovation show, Heather’s found a new focus: her career. Only it’s not long before she’s being distracted—by the hunkiest man who ever swaggered down the streets of Red Oak Falls.

The show’s new ranch manager, Waylon Peterson, a.k.a. Prince Harry in a cowboy hat, has every woman swooning. He’s also got a bad-boy rep that’s made him the hottest mess in town. In other words, he’s catnip for Heather, the Texan queen of bad choices. That’s why she’s steering clear—even with Waylon’s charm going full throttle.

Waylon is determined to trade one night stands for true love, but convincing Heather may be an impossible task. He’s ready to settle down, but can she get past her fear of settling and give love one more shot?

My Thoughts


In the past Heather Lindsay has found herself in situations where the man she thought she would spend the rest of her life with did not share that sentiment. Instead each time he would instead show that being faithful to only one woman was just not going to happen and each time Heather died a little more inside.

Now totally wary of following her heart Heather fights to keep from becoming smitten with Waylon Peterson because his reputation as a player overshadows his apparent resemblance to Prince Harry.

In Heathers mind this of course means she will more than likely succumb to the man if they ever cross paths.

Being that Red Oak Falls is a small town and they both work on the same ranch the inevitable finally happens and to no ones surprise the pair do strike sparks.

The plot only thickens when Heather finds out the secret behind Waylon's weekends spent away from the ranch and town. A pint-sized secret that soon has her wishing for things that she had almost given up on forever and opening her eyes to the fact she really wants a chance for those dreams to come true with Waylon.

As per usual those dreams get put away when things from Waylon's past rear their ugly head, causing Heather to rethink not only her relationship with him but also the direction her future holds.

However remember this is a love story at heart and the heart wants what it wants, no matter how many obstacles are in the way there will be lasting happiness in Heather and Waylon's future. Happiness together, the kind that lasts forever because they both know that is what they have wanted from the very beginning.

Small town Texas and romance, what more does one need?

[EArc from Netgalley ]
2,130 reviews46 followers
April 9, 2018
Heather Lindsay has a soft spot for gingers which is why she's avoiding Waylon Peterson. He's a danger to her common sense. He works at Cal and Jill's ranch where she's doing the landscape design for their wedding. Can Jill resist this magnetic cowboy? Heather has a bad habit of falling in love with the wrong men. I know that she was afraid but I wanted her to trust Waylon. These two have an immediate connection. They take the time to get to know each other and share their secrets. This is so important in a relationship. Heather cares for his little girl and admires how much Waylon cares for her. I fell for Waylon. He's made mistakes, but he's owned up to them and changed his life. That takes courage and commitment. His daughter is his life. I was happy to be back in Red Oak Falls and catch up with Jill, Cal and Trenton. Blu Johnson's life lessons were a special treat. They were a perfect way to tie everything together. I'm enjoying the Deep In The Heart series. Kim Law has written characters that I like combined with a romantic and emotional story that was touching. I can't wait for Trenton's story.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Avid Reader.
1,752 reviews
April 9, 2018
Softhearted (Deep in the Heart #2) by Kim Law
4 stars
M/F Romance
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.

This is the second book in this series and while I enjoyed book 1 and recommend it, I don't necessarily believe it's necessary to understand what's going on in this story.

Heather has always loved falling in love. The men she chose, however, were less than stellar. Her sisters have never truly let her live them down. Heather is known for her pattern of wanting to take care of her someone and allowing them to take advantage of her. She is attracted to bad boys and men who will take advantage.

Waylon has a history and not all of it is good. He also has a secret that he will protect with his life. While Waylon's life hasn't been easy, he does enjoy his job now and is working very hard to earn his life. He is instantly attracted to Heather and her personality.

This is a sweet story about learning to trust yourself, someone else and falling in love. There are a lot of romantic parts to this story and I loved how Waylon courted Heather. I also found Heather's story heartbreaking and thought that it helped to create more depth to her character.
Profile Image for Bette Hansen.
5,073 reviews40 followers
April 4, 2018
This is a fantastic addition to the Deep in the Heart series. It's the second book in the series but it's easily read standalone. Heather are Waylon are great characters and their story will definitely leave you smiling. The book is wonderfully written and definitely one for the must read list.

Heather has had it with romance. She may love to be in love but her track record proves she never gets it right. She may be attracted to the new ranch manager but no. Just no! Waylon Peterson may be nice, swoon worthy and possess those Prince Harry good looks (Heather's kryptonite) but she has to stay strong and resist him. Yet the more she gets to know him the more she wants him and it's clear Waylon feels the same way. Is he worth taking a chance on??

I highly recommend this one.
Profile Image for Linda.
1,084 reviews49 followers
December 1, 2025
4.25 stars

So good! A wonderful love story between Heather and Waylon. She's a hopeless romantic and he's a confirmed bachelor, or is he?

She's made a life with Aunt Blu and her best friends/foster sisters. They have a business together and Jill's getting married. When Jill's fiancè hires Waylon, Heather tries to stay away, but he's gorgeous and charming. Add in horses and a young girl, and Heather might be losing her resolve. At times funny, then sweet, steamy, touching.... it's all that and more.

A long overdue read and review. Thank you Kim for a chance to read your book. A new to me author, I'm happy to say, and if this is any indication, a favorite author too.
Profile Image for Gail.
1,544 reviews
March 28, 2018
I received a free advanced copy from the publisher. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

This is the second book in the series. I found it to be slow going and not as good as the first book in the series Hardheaded.
This is Heather's story and she has not been very lucky with men in the past. There is an attraction between Waylon and her and so she agrees to having a secret relationship. They both have suffered losses in the past and have both made bad choices in life. Can they both be given a second chance at life and get over the past? Read the story to find out.
Profile Image for Kim Reads (Read Your Writes Book Reviews).
1,475 reviews143 followers
July 7, 2020
Heather Lindsay is saying no to men and bad choices. Unfortunately for her, Waylon Peterson, a Prince Harry look-alike has just come to town. The charming cowboy is ready to change his bad-boy ways and settle down. He sets his eyes on Heather and life as they know it is changed forever.

I loved watching these two together. Be prepared to fall in love yourself.

**Received a copy from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed.**
Profile Image for Deborah Joy.
Author 11 books36 followers
April 5, 2018
Kim has once again written an amazing story with spectacular characters. She never fails to disappoint this avid reader. Thank you Kim for another awesome story.
Profile Image for Mary.
1,051 reviews21 followers
March 28, 2018
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

Both Heather's and Waylon's backstories made their romance even sweeter. Each of them have had things happen that changed the course of their lives and both of them are slowly making their way back to "normal".

I enjoyed this book, but the ending felt a little rushed to me.

~~Wicked Reads Review Team~~

7 reviews
April 11, 2018
Many romance stories center on a “bad boy” looking for quick love and a “vulnerable” woman burned by love or life who still, deep in her heart, wants to find the man of her dreams. What differentiates the stories are the answers to questions such as why is that boy bad? What hurt the woman previously? And, is there any way that a bridge can be formed between them that has a positive effect on their lives? Most people are composed of many layers such as the public persona or the business representative but hidden inside is the person who few people ever see, except maybe close friends and relatives. The ultimate question is can the protective barrier we all use, be cracked to revel the soft heart inside?

Softhearted is the second book in the Deep in the Heart Trilogy by Kim Law. It returns to Red Oak Falls, Texas the town where Heather Lindsay lives and works with her two step-sisters, Jill and Trenton in a company that used to build “she-sheds” but has now expanded into home remodeling. Their foster mother Aunt Blu is still there to provide much needed advice and assistance to their lives. In this book Jill is getting married in an outdoor ceremony and Heather has taken on the task of creating the garden which will be used. The TV crew from the Dream Home Special from Book One of the trilogy is back and have decided that they will film the wedding preparation and call it “Building a Life”. Developing a garden for the wedding becomes even more important and the pressure is on for Heather.

But a major problem arises in the appearance of a man named Waylon Petersen. Everyone in town refers to him as “Prince Harry” because he looks so much like the prince. Waylon is the ultimate bad boy to the women of Red Oak Falls. Stories abound about him and his bad boy ways and every single woman in town fantasizes about being the one to tame him. Some even go so far as to hint that maybe their last encounter with him might tip the scale their way. Heather has a reputation of not being successful with men and making many mistakes in that regard so she does not want to join the crowd dreaming about him. And yet, he is so attractive and mysterious that she finds it hard to resist being captivated.

In an unexpected encounter with Waylon, Heather learns quickly that he is a big flirt and finds herself practically drawn to him magnetically. She can feel the barrier she has erected around herself melting and her strength dissolving but a strong mind and the business at hand of creating the garden rescues her from falling inside his magic circle. And yet, she is still intrigued. Waylon, on the other hand, is enjoying his popularity with the women in town but maintains his independence. He doesn’t get pulled into the many snares being laid in his path. And what makes him more mysterious is his disappearance every weekend. Heather is the one who really appeals to him, most likely because she is seems indifferent to him, unlike the other women. She is a challenge that he can’t resist. If this were any normal situation they could easily avoid each other and life would continue without any problem. But in this case, Waylon is a ranch hand at the farm where Heather is creating the new garden so it is difficult for them to avoid each other completely. Maybe fate is playing her hand here. Or maybe not.

Both wonder what is really going on inside of the other one and why they act in the ways they do. Each has their own crosses to bear and life events that have shaped their lives in negative ways. And yet, the attraction between them is hard to resist. Both Heather and Waylon reluctantly find their exteriors begin to crack a little so they continue to interact. But is that enough to lead to a real, meaningful relationship?

Anyone who read Book One in the series knows a little about the history of Heather, Trenton, Jill and their Aunt Blu but even more information is learned about each one in this book. And yet, if one hasn’t read Book One, they can still read this book and enjoy it. Then they go back and read Book One and savor it because even though the characters are the same, each story stands alone. Heather is the focus here and it is interesting to learn how her past has affected her present day life. This book also looks into Waylon, his past, his reputation and his family life. Neither of these individuals have had a smooth sail through life and one wonders if two troubled people could ever really form a common bond. Along the way, other characters appear who expand the possibilities and enrich the story. It appears that there are a lot of troubled hearts here that could use some softness.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read about troubled people trying to improve their lives and make connections with others. Heather and Waylon might have reached the point when it was time to leave their pasts behind and find a better life. But that takes a lot of work and presents new risks. The other new characters who popped up showed how extended family ties can also enrich one’s life. To me, reading a Kim Law book is like coming home. Her characters are ones I care about and understand. I also like the way her story rambles along like a bubbling brook on a country farm. I sit down and fall into her spell and take the ride down that brook. Additionally, I like the little sayings which open each chapter and hint at the perspective of events to come. I can’t wait to read Book Three and see what happens to Trenton in her story.

I received a free, advance copy of this book from the published. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.
Profile Image for Karen.
368 reviews
April 12, 2018
Softhearted, written by Kim Law, is the second book in the Deep in the Heart series. This book can be read as a standalone, however, I highly recommend reading the first book in the series, Hardheaded. This is truly a unique series, with four strong female characters...Jill, Heather, Trenton and Aunt Blu. Hardheaded gives the reader the background information needed for all characters, with the primary focus being on Jill's story. All of the characters play a reoccurring role in Softhearted as well, but this is Heather's story.

Heather Lindsay knows about heartbreak, in more ways than one. In addition to giving her heart...and having it broken more than once...she has also suffered the tragic loss of her parents. Needless to say, life has not been easy for Heather. The one thing she truly longs for is true love, but because of her past heartbreaks, she is not too eager to jump back into the dating circle. All of that changes when she meets the new ranch manager, Waylon. Heather has a thing for men that look like Prince Harry, and Waylon could pass for his double. Every time she sees him, she feels the attraction between them, but is she ready to finally give love a chance?

Waylon Peterson is the talk of the town. Every weekend he disappears from town, and the rumor mill is running amuck. Waylon knows everyone is speculating where he goes every weekend, but he does nothing to set the record straight. He is a very private man, even though it's rumored that he spends his free time dating various women. Almost every woman in town is trying to get his attention, but only one woman holds his interest, and that woman is Heather. He just needs to find a way to convince her to give him and love another try.

This truly is an amazing series, and once again, Kim Law knocked it out of the park. The series is based on strong female characters, and the author brilliantly captures the different personalities of each one. I love the the relationship between Jill, Heather, Trenton and Aunt Blu. What they have is both realistic and heartwarming...and I love how they all look out for one another. Heather and Waylon will tug at your heartstrings, and you truly want them to both find their happily ever after. Kim Law beautifully tells their stories that are filled with some unexpected twists. The characters are extremely well-written, but are far from perfect. Their flaws not only make them realistic, but also relatable. Kim Law is a wonderful storyteller, and her writing style leaves no stone unturned. On a side note, one other thing I loved is the fact that each chapter has a life lesson quote at the beginning...typically one from Aunt Blu. This adds a personal touch to each chapter, and relates the importance of Aunt Blu in the lives of the three main characters.

I honestly cannot stress enough just how wonderful this series is! Softhearted is a full length novel, but reads at a steady and easy pace. I truly enjoyed following Jill's story in Hardheaded and now Heather's story in Softhearted. I will anxiously be waiting to read Trenton's story in the next book in the series.

I would like to thank Montlake Romance, NetGalley and Kim Law for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book. My views are my own and are in no way influenced by anyone else.
Profile Image for Phyllis.
88 reviews
April 4, 2018
Softhearted is the second in Kim Law’s series Deep in the Heart. It can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading the first book Hardheaded before this one as it will give you an idea who the people are. I myself have to say that I enjoyed this book more than the first one, sorry Kim. Waylon and Heather were very likable people, they were funny and the ‘bickering’ they did together was great.

Heather Lindsay was one of three girls that made up Bluebonnet Construction. She is the romantic, she loves love and can easily fall in love. She has given her heart to the wrong guy a few too many times and is tired of having it trampled. But love is wonderful everyone deserves to feel it. The ranch has hired a new hand, Waylon Peterson. He is known as the Prince Harry look alike, the exact type that Heather goes for. Her friends have told her to stay away from him for fear she will fall back into her old ways. Waylon has a reputation.

Waylon Peterson, new ranch hand, good looking but has a reputation as a lady’s man. He disappears every weekend and rumors are he is with a new woman each time. He also has a past that is colored, gambling, stealing. Who really knows since he doesn’t let his personal life come out at all. He is extremely private.

Heather and Waylon both have issues from their past that they need to deal with. They are attracted to each other but agree to be just friends, will that work? Well it does, for a while until they can’t deny the chemistry any longer. Heather finds out that Waylon bought a house in town and decides to show up there one Saturday night in nothing but a trench coat. She knocks on the door, but Waylon isn’t the one who answers. This starts their relationship on a new direction.

Heather has problems that stem from when she was a teenager and her parents both died in a fire when their barn burned. Things she has learned about that time and how they have been and are now still affecting her. Because of these problems her relationships suffer. Waylon is in the fight of his life right now, and his past can ruin his chances of winning this fight. The relationship between them will help them both through their healing and realizations of things. It may also help them reach a happily ever after, but you must read the book to find out.

This book was long, not in length but in it seemed to be drawn out. Most might find that to be bothersome, but in this book, I think it was necessary. It was needed to really show these two people in real colors, how they got there and how they were going to get passed it. There was quite a bit to their stories. As I said above, I really liked this one the best so far in this series. It had a lot of heart and meaning.

“I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.”
Profile Image for Bec.
1,659 reviews42 followers
April 16, 2018

Heather Lindsay is a big believer in love, but for some reason she keeps picking duds and failing to make a relationship the forever kind. However, the moment she meets Waylon Peterson, there's instant chemistry. Except she's heard the rumours about his lothario reputation and there's no way she could get involved with a playboy. Yet, attempting to stay away from him is impossible. Will Waylon be able to win Heather over or will she walk away from her chance at happy ever after because she finds it hard to trust?

The first book of this series was an absolutely captivating read, but this story has taken the series up a notch and I've got to say that Heather is the most fascinating of the three women that have such a tight bond because of all that they've been through. Indeed, she's a softy; the one that falls for the wrong guys. Yet, in saying that, it looks like she's found the right one this time in Waylon, as long as he can prove he's a good guy and not the lothario everyone says he is. Will the hero be able to win the heroine over?

As for the dialogue, it was intense, enthralling and I loved the way this story started, especially since the first life lesson at the top of the chapter sums up Heather's love life. However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine come face-to-face for the first time that brought a huge smile to my face, as the hero is such a flirt and Heather is determined to resist his charm. Moreover, both the main characters were incredible with the heroine being hard-working, resilient, determined to resist Waylon, and yet, I liked that she ended up giving him a chance because they're so good together. I also liked how protective Heather's friends are of her because Trenton and Jill don't want to see her get hurt by a guy again. Yet, what I liked most of all about the heroine is the decisions she made when it came to her future.

While the hero, he's confident, an absolute charmer and I liked how determined he was to win the heroine over because she fascinates him and is the first woman to catch his attention in a while. However, I couldn't help but feel sorry for him because of everything he's been through when it comes to his ex's parents and the relationship he's had with his own father. Certainly, there's a bit of resentment, but I liked how everything worked out for him because his daughter means the world to him and nothing should keep them apart.

Overall, Ms. Las has delivered an utterly fantastic and well-written read in this book where the main characters were well-developed and had me loving their intense chemistry; the romance was special, as Waylon treats Heather wonderfully; and the ending had me jumping for joy because of how things worked out for the hero when it came to his legal battle and his relationship with the heroine. The hero's words are sweet and full of loving, especially when he's talking about her hips. I would recommended Softhearted by Kim Law, if you enjoy the opposites attract trope or books by authors Catherine Bybee, Jamie Beck, Erin Nicholas and Jill Sanders.
Profile Image for Sandy.
1,292 reviews23 followers
April 16, 2018
I am loving this series. I didn't like this one as much as the first in the series, Hardheaded. There needed to be a trigger warning at the beginning of the book - "Sandy! Trigger warning for a jerk of a guy!!"

I liked Heather as the main female character. She was tough and did something I would probably do if I had a crush on some guy. Fall hard, and then make cookies for him. Snickerdoodles too. Just like Heather.

I did not like Waylon all that much. He was condescending, conceited, and I hate how he "teased" Heather so much. Some people like it but it put me off. And that he looked like Prince Harry in a cowboy hat didn't do anything for me. He did get better after a while. I guess he used teasing Heather to get into her pants and then didn't tease her as much. But I stayed with the book because I knew things would work out and I would get my hea.

Some notes while I was reading:

-At first Heather thinks Waylon is bad. Calling him a "coarse, smelly, jerk of a man." I'm with you on that Heather. But it made me think of Leia calling Han a "scruffy nerf herder."

-Waylon picks up two filters in boxes. Heather was going to get one but Waylon can't have that. "Because you're a man?" He says, "that's as good a reason as any." Yep. I don't like him. This is her job. She is perfectly capable of carrying her own filters.

-Waylon teases Heather and says "Even if you do wear a bit of dessert on your hips." (Hips dialogue forthcoming) She starts to boil, me along with her, and then he says "...you're fun". No, this is not fun.

-Heather eats an egg white and veggie omelet. Where are the women who eat regular foods. First we have Waylon teasing Heather about her hips (again hips dialogue forthcoming) and then she eats egg white and veggie omelets. No wonder women have issues with body image, we have women eating egg white and veggie omelets and still have the men teasing them about the hips.

-Heather and Waylon are at the bar and while he is sitting and flirting with her he sees two women across from them and he winks at them. Yep, I would have told him to fuck off right then and there.

-Waylon is out on the ranch and he thinks to himself, "it was man's work-running fence, protecting the land". Really. OMG don't let women do this!

-Chapter 14 - I don't know how many times her hips have been mentioned before now but this is why I put this book on the same word over and over shelf. It's all about the hips.

-In the next paragraph he winks. And he winks a lot in this book. I'm not big on winking.

-Twice more in this chapter "hips" is used.

-Chapter 21 - hips again. I thought we were done.

I did like this book because I love Kim Law and the way she writes. The story is really good and ends great. I'm sure there are many people out there who will love Waylon and how he teases Heather. I can't wait to read Trenton's book, and maybe there will be an update to Aunt Blu and Charlie, and maybe a bit about Ollie and not to forget Rose.

I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.
Profile Image for Karen Siddall.
Author 1 book115 followers
June 8, 2018
Set in the Texas Hill Country, somewhere near San Marcos, Softhearted is the second book in the Deep in the Heart series by author Kim Law.

The series focuses on the women of Bluebonnet Farms – a foster home begun and continued by “Aunt Blu” Johnson. Softhearted features Heather Lindsay, the middle “sister” of Aunt Blu’s three original foster girls and continues from a point a little while after the story told in book one, Hardheaded. (Softhearted can be read as a standalone novel though I think readers will enjoy it more after having read Hardheaded.)

Of the three original girls, Heather is “The Soft One” with a heart as big as Texas and tender to boot. She was orphaned as a young teen when both parents were killed in a barn fire. Years later, this tragedy still looms large in her life and colors the choices she makes. Thrice disappointed in love, she finds herself attracted to what she fears is another bad choice – Waylon Peterson, the new ranch manager working for her foster sister, Jill and, soon-to-be-husband, Cal.

With the wedding only weeks away, the Bluebonnet women (Jill, Trenton, and Heather) are working hard on transforming Cal’s ranch house and grounds into the perfect setting for the upcoming nuptials. Adding to the expected pressure that a wedding brings is the fact that these activities are all being filmed as part of Jill and Cal’s new reality TV show, Building a Life. Heather and Waylon are like catnip to each other in this emotionally charged atmosphere. But both have some soul-searching to do before they can find their happily-ever-after.

Softhearted is a great next step in the Deep in the Heart series with a full-bodied story for foster sister, Heather, and some intriguing foundation laid regarding the future for foster sister number three, Trenton, and even Aunt Blu. The hero is a romantic and a single dad with a charming young daughter. I loved the setting in the Texas Hill Country and the mention of San Marcos. Horses played a featured role in this story which I also enjoyed. This book is recommended for contemporary romance readers.
26 reviews
April 10, 2018
Softhearted is the second in the series of the Bluebonnet women. The series deals with three women who became foster daughters of Aunt Blu: Jill, Heather, and Trenton. This book was a lot better than the first book. Not that the first book was bad, but Softhearted took me on a journey between Waylon and Heather’s relationship and just sucked me in.

Heather is in charge of creating all the landscaping for Jill and Cal’s wedding (from Hardheaded). Heather is at somewhat of at a lose with her life after the merger of the construction companies due to the TV show. She is happy to be creating the dream landscape that she once drew up with her mother, but is unsettled as to what she really wants to do in life.

Waylon is the ranch manager and has his own troubled past. There are many rumors running around about Waylon cheating people out of money and being wild.

Heather has a thing for “gingers,” especially ones that look like Prince Harry and Waylon fits the bill. Heather is notorious for choosing users and tries to avoid Waylon at all costs. Heather sees that there is more to Waylon than a good nature fun loving guy. When she finds out he has a daughter and is trying to get full custody back from her grandparents, she falls a little harder. Waylon is trying to be the best father he can be despite mistakes he has made in the past that may interfere with the custody hearing.

One scene in particular brought me to tears and it had nothing to do with Heather and Wayon. A couple of days before the wedding, the three women along with Aunt Blu gather in the Jill’s she-shed. Their conversation revolves about how things are changing.

Softhearted just pulled me into the story where I really felt for the characters and cared about what happened.

I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.
Profile Image for Michele.
55 reviews1 follower
April 15, 2018
Softhearted is by far my favorite book written by Kim Law. I think it just might be because I walked in heroine Heather’s shoes once upon a time. She is so sweet and loveable and will do anything for anyone. But she’s an emotional basket case. She wants to fall in love so bad. She falls in love at the drop of a hat with all the wrong guys baking them cookies almost before the first date ends. Doormat anyone? She only wants what she “thinks” her parents had … a perfect love story.
Enter Waylon. A total hunk. A ginger. Heather has a real soft spot for red headed guys. Waylon has a grimy, not so nice and in no way perfect past which has caused him a ton of trouble. Heather fights the attraction until she just can’t stand it anymore. Trench coat anyone???
Needless to say, the more Heather fights the attraction the more Waylon woos her. Romances her. Fights for her heart. He becomes her biggest supporter helping to build Heather’s self-esteem one kiss at a time. Then she walks away!
Heather fights to confront her past starting with her parents death when she was a teenager. Finally she is able to confront her past and place her future in perspective. Only when she can get right with her past will she have a chance to make things right with Waylon and hope for a love that embraces all the romance she has always envisioned for herself.
I laughed. I cried. I laughed and cried again. Then my heart was able to soar. Best ending ever! Impatiently awaiting the next book.
Softhearted is the second book in the Deep in the Heart series. The first book features three young women who met at Aunt Blu’s house as foster kids and established an unbreakable bond that is everlasting. These can be stand alone books.
Profile Image for Marcia.
1,921 reviews30 followers
March 27, 2018
Kim Law is one of my favorite Contemporary Romance writers. In these books she explores family relationships, how loss or absence of a parent can affect someone even into adulthood. But also the nature versus nurture issues, because there are some who have had terrible childhoods, then vow never to act that way with their own child and those who continue to repeat the horrible parenting that hey received.

Softhearted follow immediately after the ending of Hardheaded and should not be read as a stand alone. Jill and Cal are getting married, the two companies have been combined into a new one, Bluebonnets Nail It, and the new show will be about preparations for the wedding. Heather is in charge of the landscaping. She is unsure of herself but wants the design to honor her parents, who died in a fire when she was 14. A new character is hired as the ranch manager. Waylon Peterson, has been nicknamed "Prince Harry in a cowboy hat". Heather has terrible judgement with men, and after all kinds of rumors fly about him, avoids him. But she is so attracted to redheads. But most of the rumors are false, and Waylon is looking for love and marriage and has determined that Heather is the one he wants. They both have secrets that they will have to reveal to the other, if they are to get their HEA.

Endearing characters, beautiful scenery, captivating plot, landscaping information and even some villains. A terrific read.

I received a free ARC from the publisher. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.
Profile Image for Gale.
1,967 reviews22 followers
April 10, 2018
It would be bad for me to go into much detail as I don’t want to give any spoilers but I can say that Heather and Waylon are a great couple, even if they can’t see it themselves. This is book two of the Deep In The Heart series however it can be read as a standalone, though I recommend the first book, too.

Heather is a softie and such a great character. She falls down a bit, in my mind, when she has a hard time believing in herself. Softhearted is about her journey so that saves the character for me. Waylon. Wow. I’m not sure how he automatically comes with such a bad rap, at the beginning of the book, but he does. I really liked the character and cheered him on from the start. He and Heather were a perfect match…and the story is about how they try to get to that conclusion themselves.

The character I didn’t like this time around is Trenton. I found that she was extremely hard-nosed and highly opinionated – made me dislike her. Of course, this means Ms. Law did a great job of writing her, so as to engender that strong reaction, imho. And other characters made me smile, snicker, and just wanna hug ‘em.

I enjoyed the book, loved Waylon, and had my heart break at both Heather’s and Waylon’s back stories. Can’t wait to read what happens to the third foster sister (Trenton) in what I hope will be the next book in the series. I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.
Profile Image for Leslie.
143 reviews1 follower
April 20, 2018
The second in a series, I was happy to see some writing in the beginning to jog my memory of the first one. Because I’m older and can’t retain anything anymore, LOL.

Heather has had some unfortunate failures in love. Waylon is new to Red Oak Falls where he is working on the ranch with Heather’s best friend’s fiancé. Our initial contact with Waylon made me roll my eyes and think, oh gawd another Romeo smooth-talker. So initially I didn’t care for the character.

But...as we dig a little deeper into Waylon’s story, he becomes an entire different person. A very likeable person. With a child. It took a while to figure his story out in the book and I must say I was getting a little annoyed that his backstory was given in bits and pieces and not flowing together. But it got better.

Heather’s story goes deeper too with her family history and I love the relationships between her foster sisters and foster mom, Blu (who gets her own chance at some love).

I did enjoy the love scenes. They were hot, but not that explicit so you could use your own imagination. And they didn’t drag on for pages and pages. Thumbs up.

Another installment about foster sister Trenton should complete the series. She is quite the mysterious one. Hard, tough. Will be interesting to find out what the deal with her is.

*I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.*
Profile Image for patrick Lorelli.
3,756 reviews37 followers
December 17, 2018
The second book in this series has the second sister putting on a wedding. She as always liked to plan weddings and work outdoors in the garden and doing landscapes. The one big problem that Heather Lindsey has is that she falls in love and then when the guy leaves her which always happens she is destroyed for more months than she like to remember. She is feeling the pressure of wanting to do a bang up job for the out-door wedding since it is also going to be on T.V. and with the added pressure she has put on herself, she becomes nervous when she meets a very attractive man. The type of man she would normally would fall for. Allowing herself just to look everything for her becomes jumbled when the man, Weston Peterson also is the same man that her sister and soon to be brother in law hired to run their ranch. This means that she will have to be spending some time with him which she really wants to avoid. Preston has noticed Lindsey and has gone out of his way on the days she has come out to ranch to be in her way. He finds her attractive and her wanting to avoid him only adds to him wanting to meet her. They both have scares from the past and when she over hears people talking about a love of his this only brings back her fears and her wanting to hide. See what happens and how her two sisters help her. A good story. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
3,549 reviews40 followers
March 26, 2018
I loved the first book in this series, and was looking forward to book 2. Though it was still entertaining, for me, it wasn’t as engaging as book one.
The series centers around three gals that became foster sisters, when “Aunt” Blu took them in. When as adults they all returned home, they formed a construction company. In book one, you find out how they ended up merging with another construction company. You would benefit from reading it to get all the details of this group.
This time, it’s Heather’s story and the man she is attracted to , Waylon.
Heather has not been lucky in either choosing men or in love. When she hears the new ranch manager in town is a redheaded Prince Harry lookalike, she makes it a point of staying far away from him, since he is definitely her type.
Both have a history of losses, and bad choices .
Will they give a relationship and love a chance, or will their past experiences inhibit them from searching happiness?
My issues were with the push and pull going on with Heather, whom I never felt a connection to and it seemed to be a story geared for the late 20s crowd. For me, it’s a 3.5 star. Still, Ms Law is a talented author and my personal opinions should not detract from her writing.
I was gifted a copy by Netgalley and Montlake Romance. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
282 reviews8 followers
April 10, 2018
Kim Law's books are sensual and have mild language, humor and she will keep you turning the pages. Soft Hearted is part of a series but can easily be read as a stand alone. Heather seems to have a problem with falling in love with the wrong type of man. Saying that she does seem to have a thing for Prince Harry look alikes and Waylon is the new foreman on the ranch where Heather's friend is getting married and soon to be her home. Heather's friends take one look at him and warn her to stay far away. Harry as a cowboy with the Prince Harry looks is someone Heather needs to run away from as fast as she can. Then why does she seem to be always near where Harry, excuse me, Waylon is.

The characters remind me of a few friends I've had over the years and I'm usually the one in the middle of trouble and Heather faces trouble in a big way. I always enjoy a fun friend with characters that you feel like you know.

I received this book as an ARC (advance readers copy) from the author with no expectations on the review. All opinions are my own and if I could I would leave a 4 1/2 star rating. If you like a fun read and from an author that can keep you turning pages then I highly recommend this book. I read it in two sittings and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
1,014 reviews13 followers
April 11, 2018
When you want to find love, then you fall in love, then you fall out of love, then you fall in, and out, and…well you get the picture. This is Heather. She has vowed she’s going to give up on love. She’s just not doing it. But as the old saying goes, when you least expect it, in walks love…in the guise of Waylon. Mysterious and gorgeous, Heather does NOT want to fall for this man.

In my opinion, Heather seems a bit jaded. Everyone has always left her, except her foster sisters and her foster mom. I think she feels that Waylon will too, so she tries to keep her heart out of the equation and comes off as standoffish one minute and totally into the relationship in another.

Waylon has made some mistakes. He’s now trying to make up for those mistakes, but his ‘need’ to not share some of his private business, makes him seem like there is something going on. There is, but it’s not what you might think!!

I enjoyed this book and it is a great addition to this series. I can’t wait for Trenton’s story!!

Softhearted, is the second book in the ‘Deep in the Heart’ series by Kim Law. Hardheaded is the first. You don’t have to read the series in order, in fact they’re both ‘standalones’, but since I’ve read both, I think having the background from Hardheaded helps.




Profile Image for Susan McClintock.
890 reviews11 followers
April 10, 2018
4.5 Stars

Jill, Heather and Trenton are three foster sister taken in by “Aunt” Blu when they were teens. They formed a construction company, Bluebonnet Construction, specializing in she-sheds. They first book in the series had their company in an competition on a home improvement show, and told Jill and Cal’s story. This book is Heather and Waylon’s story. Heather came to live with “Aunt” Blu after her parents died in a barn fire when she was 14. She is now working on the home improvement show as the landscape designer for Cal’s ranch. Waylon is working on Cal’s ranch as the foreman. Heather has chosen poorly and been hurt in past relationships and is wary of Waylon. Waylon has made poor choices in his past that he is trying to make right. Both of them have baggage that they have to get past before they can find their way to their HEA. What I loved about this book, Waylon. He is a great guy, handsome and sweet. What kept this from being a 5 star was Heather. In the first part of the book, she acted like she was in high school (she is 29). As their relationship started to take off, the character improved. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to Trenton’s story. I was given an ARC of this book for my honest review.
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