What do you think?
Rate this book
Harbor Falls Romance #2
Take My Heart
When Shelley Hart ran off and married her sister's fiancé, the whole town of Harbor Falls was in a twitter. A few years later, with her husband deceased and two little girls to take care of, Shelley realizes her only recourse is to go home.
The last thing Shelley Hart wants is to go home for the holidays. She left her hometown of Harbor Falls, North Carolina nearly years earlier and hasn't returned. Her leaving humiliated her entire family and caused friction with her older sister Suzie. Who could blame Suzie for being upset? After all, Shelley ran off and married Suzie's fiancé, Cliff.
But everything has changed now--and going home is her only option.
Harbor Falls Police Officer Matt Branson values being alone, even during the holidays. Dubbed the town hermit, he prefers the solitude of his mountain cabin to socializing with friends--friends who say he still pines after the woman who got away. But the snowy day he pulls over an older model sedan speeding into Harbor Falls, things change. His gut slams against his backbone as a tearful woman rolls down the car window. His heart melts when she looks up into his eyes.
Shelley Hart is back in town--the woman who sent him into his cave in the first place.
Previously published as Home for the Holidays by Maddie James. Updated and revised.
The last thing Shelley Hart wants is to go home for the holidays. She left her hometown of Harbor Falls, North Carolina nearly years earlier and hasn't returned. Her leaving humiliated her entire family and caused friction with her older sister Suzie. Who could blame Suzie for being upset? After all, Shelley ran off and married Suzie's fiancé, Cliff.
But everything has changed now--and going home is her only option.
Harbor Falls Police Officer Matt Branson values being alone, even during the holidays. Dubbed the town hermit, he prefers the solitude of his mountain cabin to socializing with friends--friends who say he still pines after the woman who got away. But the snowy day he pulls over an older model sedan speeding into Harbor Falls, things change. His gut slams against his backbone as a tearful woman rolls down the car window. His heart melts when she looks up into his eyes.
Shelley Hart is back in town--the woman who sent him into his cave in the first place.
Previously published as Home for the Holidays by Maddie James. Updated and revised.
- GenresRomance
109 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2017
About the author
Maddie James
146 books478 followersMaddie James also writes as Madeleine Jaimes.
The author of 70+ romantic novels, novellas, and short stories, Maddie James pens romance and suspense stories in contemporary and paranormal worlds. Her contemporary worlds often lean toward small towns and western settings, complete with cowboys, Alpha men, and strong, take-charge women.
Her romance writing career launched in 1997 as a traditionally published author with Kensington Books. Currently publishing as an independent author, she writes full time from her Midwest, small town home, where she also gardens, cooks, and chases the dog.
Affaire de Coeur says, “James shows a special talent for traditional romance,” and RT Book Reviews claims, “James deftly combines romance and suspense, so hop on for an exhilarating ride.”
The author of 70+ romantic novels, novellas, and short stories, Maddie James pens romance and suspense stories in contemporary and paranormal worlds. Her contemporary worlds often lean toward small towns and western settings, complete with cowboys, Alpha men, and strong, take-charge women.
Her romance writing career launched in 1997 as a traditionally published author with Kensington Books. Currently publishing as an independent author, she writes full time from her Midwest, small town home, where she also gardens, cooks, and chases the dog.
Affaire de Coeur says, “James shows a special talent for traditional romance,” and RT Book Reviews claims, “James deftly combines romance and suspense, so hop on for an exhilarating ride.”
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Want to Read
October 20, 2021🎁 Part of Harbor Falls Romance Box Set which is FREE on Amazon today (10/20/2021)! 🎁
April 18, 2026
Reviewed at Happily Ever After Romance
Quite frankly, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about Shelley’s story, given the heartache she caused her sister, Suzie, when she ran off with Cliff, Suzie’s fiancé, several years ago. Having read the author’s work for a very long time now, I shouldn’t have hesitated because Shelley’s story is chock-full of forgiveness, redemption, and moving forward. Also, the fact that Suzie and Brad are so happy and perfect for each other dimmed my initial dislike of Shelley. Let’s say, she grew on me, and absolutely everyone deserves a second chance.
Take My Heart is the second title in the Sweet Hart Inn at Harbor Falls series. You don’t “have” to have read the first story, All of My Heart, to enjoy Shelley and Matt’s complicated romance… but I would highly recommend you try to because this is a series that I feel needs to be read in order to get the overall connections found in this small town. That’s my opinion; you do what works best for you.
I enjoyed Shelley and Matt’s romance so much. There is a lot of hurt baggage for them to work through. When Shelley returned home after her husband’s death with her two little girls, she had no idea of the reception she would receive. Yet, she had no choice but to return. She knew she had hurt people she loved, probably beyond repair, but for her daughters’ sake, she had to at least try to make amends. That journey will not be easy, not by any stretch of the imagination. Watching this couple, well, this family actually, work through the mistakes of the past, aiming for a better future for them all, was an emotional experience. Their story is well-written, so emotional, and will tug at your heart as you watch a couple reunite to find their happiness, heal deep wounds, and move forward into a future they both believe in. If that sounds like your kind of romance, then you’re going to love Take My Heart.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author’s team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
Quite frankly, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about Shelley’s story, given the heartache she caused her sister, Suzie, when she ran off with Cliff, Suzie’s fiancé, several years ago. Having read the author’s work for a very long time now, I shouldn’t have hesitated because Shelley’s story is chock-full of forgiveness, redemption, and moving forward. Also, the fact that Suzie and Brad are so happy and perfect for each other dimmed my initial dislike of Shelley. Let’s say, she grew on me, and absolutely everyone deserves a second chance.
Take My Heart is the second title in the Sweet Hart Inn at Harbor Falls series. You don’t “have” to have read the first story, All of My Heart, to enjoy Shelley and Matt’s complicated romance… but I would highly recommend you try to because this is a series that I feel needs to be read in order to get the overall connections found in this small town. That’s my opinion; you do what works best for you.
I enjoyed Shelley and Matt’s romance so much. There is a lot of hurt baggage for them to work through. When Shelley returned home after her husband’s death with her two little girls, she had no idea of the reception she would receive. Yet, she had no choice but to return. She knew she had hurt people she loved, probably beyond repair, but for her daughters’ sake, she had to at least try to make amends. That journey will not be easy, not by any stretch of the imagination. Watching this couple, well, this family actually, work through the mistakes of the past, aiming for a better future for them all, was an emotional experience. Their story is well-written, so emotional, and will tug at your heart as you watch a couple reunite to find their happiness, heal deep wounds, and move forward into a future they both believe in. If that sounds like your kind of romance, then you’re going to love Take My Heart.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author’s team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
May 2, 2020
I read this book as part of the two book set that starts the series by Maddie James that is set in the small town of Harbor Falls. Shelley Hart returns to Harbor Falls widowed with two sweet little girls after running off to elope with the man of her dreams. Except he wasn’t the first man to make her dream of family and children and the one she left behind is still here. Matt Branson tries to move on but one look at Shelley has him doubting his hermit lifestyle and reminds him of all he could have had if Shelley had never left.
March 20, 2026
Wow, this story was emotional. Shelly did a lot of damage to her sister, to Matt…when she eloped with her sisters fiancé, she hurt so many people around her. But her husband has since passed. So with two little girls, she heads back to the town she left. It’s when she runs into Matt that things really hit hard for everyone. He’s dumbfounded and still angry. She owes a lot of apologies. But it’s when her and Matt are able to with though things that things start to really get better. This w was a sweet and wonderful story about forgiveness and learning to move forward in life.
March 18, 2026
Shelley needs to ask forgiveness from the people she hurt when she left town, starting with her sister because it was her fiancee Shelley ran off with, then its Matt, the guy she dumped before she left. Matt needs to forgive Shelley because he can't continue to hurt and be so angry any more. Shelley and Matt have an interesting relationship now, luckily friends and neighbors are there for them.
April 3, 2026
Shelley is back home after her husband died. She is afraid her family hates her, especially her sister, but they welcome her and her two little daughters with open arms.
Matt can’t believe his eyes when he stops a car, and he finds Shelley inside. His heart jumps full of love for her.
The story was nice, sweet, and entertaining. I loved what Shelley’s sister did at the end of the story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Matt can’t believe his eyes when he stops a car, and he finds Shelley inside. His heart jumps full of love for her.
The story was nice, sweet, and entertaining. I loved what Shelley’s sister did at the end of the story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 23, 2026
Once bitten, twice shy. Some people have all the luck. Other folks, if they didn’t have bad luck they’d have no luck at all. High school sweethearts who broke up years ago due to some rather irreconcilable differences, so to speak, run into each other again. Their personal circumstances are entirely different with some major complications and a couple of minor ones as well. It has a relatively short timeline but it is a timeline worth following.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews