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The Heart's Bidding
Story Garden presents THE HEART'S BIDDING, Jordan Riley Swan's debut novel--a slice-of-life family drama with a touch of gentle romance.
Kaylee Heart would rather run through a roaring fire than endure even a minute of public speaking. Put in an eighty-hour work week? No problem. Shut down her grandfather’s gold-digging girlfriend? Easy peasy. Stand in front of an auction crowd and call for bids? Show her the exit.
So she has no idea how Gerald, the golden-voiced auctioneer she’s been crushing on at the local auction house, can find the courage to stand on stage every week, with all those eyes on him. But as cruel fate would have it, she is about to find out.
Her family antique shop, the Vintage at Heart, has tripped over one financial hurdle too many and Kay is propelled, full speed, into her biggest phobia—the spotlight.
With terror chasing her, she’ll have to fight to keep the family business from closing forever. Even if the battle takes place in front of a live crowd...
Kaylee Heart would rather run through a roaring fire than endure even a minute of public speaking. Put in an eighty-hour work week? No problem. Shut down her grandfather’s gold-digging girlfriend? Easy peasy. Stand in front of an auction crowd and call for bids? Show her the exit.
So she has no idea how Gerald, the golden-voiced auctioneer she’s been crushing on at the local auction house, can find the courage to stand on stage every week, with all those eyes on him. But as cruel fate would have it, she is about to find out.
Her family antique shop, the Vintage at Heart, has tripped over one financial hurdle too many and Kay is propelled, full speed, into her biggest phobia—the spotlight.
With terror chasing her, she’ll have to fight to keep the family business from closing forever. Even if the battle takes place in front of a live crowd...
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 7, 2020
131 people are currently reading
1026 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
June 4, 2024
This is a clean cute romance. I really loved the characters in this book. There is some parts of this book I felt was a little to much or did not need to be in it. Overall it was a slow moving entertaining romance between to fun characters. I really loved the characters in this book. This book was very character driven. I have never read another book like this one. I love having the characters falling in love in the auction room. I do not think I have ever read a book that took place around am auction room and had so much about auctions. I also have to say I really loved the cover of this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Story Garden) or author (Jordan Riley Swan) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
September 2, 2020
I wanted a happy, romantic, feel-good story and therefore chose to read "The Heart's Bidding".
The storyline is quite straight forward and I loved the writing style. It was well written and I read through the pages in just few days. I really loved the whole setting with the auctioneers and the characters around the protagonist Kay. They were warm, likeable and felt real (except for Ruth and Bernard, I really didn't like both of them, ughh...).
In general, I would say this is a nice book to read during holidays at a beach or just to relax. While I loved Kay and her surroundings, she didn't have enough power to outshine the others or even just Ruth. The most memorable characters were Ruth and Bridgette; I thought Gerald, her romantic counterpart, was too flat and not interesting enough. Also, the ending seemed to be rushed. I expected to read more about Kay's personal development on how to become a successful female auctioneer.
Furthermore, the story didn't have as many romantic moments as I wished (but the interpersonal relationships of the characters made up for them). Unfortunately, this was also a problem I saw while reading this book; even though the writing and general setting were good, it seemed that the story tried to please as many genres as possible.
Most of the time, it felt like the story was dipping a bit into romance, a little bit of slice-of-life and a bit of general fiction. Oh, there were also bits of comedy in the story as well. I wouldn't be able to put a label on this story. Maybe it would have been better to leave out certain parts and focus more on the chemistry between Kay and Gerald (or just any other part of Kay's life).
Three stars don't mean that this is a bad book or anything. I did enjoy reading it and the time flew while reading. But I feel the author could have developped and edited the story further to give it the right guiding thread.
I see a lot of potential in the author though and I hope to read more books from her in the future!
**I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens for leaving an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.**
The storyline is quite straight forward and I loved the writing style. It was well written and I read through the pages in just few days. I really loved the whole setting with the auctioneers and the characters around the protagonist Kay. They were warm, likeable and felt real (except for Ruth and Bernard, I really didn't like both of them, ughh...).
In general, I would say this is a nice book to read during holidays at a beach or just to relax. While I loved Kay and her surroundings, she didn't have enough power to outshine the others or even just Ruth. The most memorable characters were Ruth and Bridgette; I thought Gerald, her romantic counterpart, was too flat and not interesting enough. Also, the ending seemed to be rushed. I expected to read more about Kay's personal development on how to become a successful female auctioneer.
Furthermore, the story didn't have as many romantic moments as I wished (but the interpersonal relationships of the characters made up for them). Unfortunately, this was also a problem I saw while reading this book; even though the writing and general setting were good, it seemed that the story tried to please as many genres as possible.
Most of the time, it felt like the story was dipping a bit into romance, a little bit of slice-of-life and a bit of general fiction. Oh, there were also bits of comedy in the story as well. I wouldn't be able to put a label on this story. Maybe it would have been better to leave out certain parts and focus more on the chemistry between Kay and Gerald (or just any other part of Kay's life).
Three stars don't mean that this is a bad book or anything. I did enjoy reading it and the time flew while reading. But I feel the author could have developped and edited the story further to give it the right guiding thread.
I see a lot of potential in the author though and I hope to read more books from her in the future!
**I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens for leaving an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.**
September 4, 2020
Done right, the sound of an auctioneer did have a musical, hypnotizing quality. A certain poetry. And Kay loved having poetry in her life.
Kaylee Heart, a twenty-something antique shop owner, suffers from glossophobia—an intense fear of public speaking. Yet the only thing that can save her shop is for her to get her live auctioneer’s license, and that means doing bid-calling in front of an audience as her final exam.
This was a satisfying read that combines slice-of-life family drama with a Hallmark-esque romance. I felt immersed in the auctioneering environment, and I have no doubt the author has a background in that field, given the attention to detail. It was cool to see how bid-calling was treated almost like an art form, with a rhythm like music and each auctioneer putting their own spin on it (especially with what Kay does at the end). The writing exudes a type of warmth that makes the pages fly by, and Swan clearly loves a good simile or metaphor.
I’d categorize this book into three genres:
Romance
Kay’s relationship with Gerald, a kind and laid-back auctioneer, is one of the story’s focal points, but it’s more of a subplot, rather than being part of the main story line. He supports Kay and gives her the benefit of the doubt; they have a healthier relationship than what I’ve seen in most romance novels.
Most importantly, the dying light accented the best thing about him: his whisper-sweet-nothings-in-the-dark voice. Gone was the professional detachment of the auction block, replaced with a warm softness that nestled in her ears.
Rather than Gerald being her white knight, it’s Kay who ultimately leads the charge in solving her own problems. Admittedly, I felt two of the older characters had better chemistry than the leads, but that’s because I’m all for an enemies-to-lovers dynamic, haha.
Family Drama
The depth and heart of the story comes from Kay’s tumultuous relationship with her grandfather Bernard and how he keeps hanging on to his toxic girlfriend Ruth, even though she’s running their shop into the ground with her spending habits. As a villain, Ruth was actually one of my favorite characters because Swan succeeded in making me absolutely despise her, since I can imagine someone like her existing in real life. Bridgette, the owner of the auctioneering school, was a stern but believable mentor figure to Kay, and a great foil to Ruth’s vanity and greed. In fact, all of the characters felt stolen from real life—they’re sympathetic but flawed, each with their own hopes and fears.
I especially admire that the author wasn’t afraid to let the protagonist make mistakes and learn from them. It greatly humanized Kay (in particular the scene where ). I liked how the multiple plot threads all tied together at the end, with Kay’s financial difficulties connecting to why she attends auction school, which leads to her overcoming multiple hurdles to find steady ground again.
Humor
Even though the story deals with realistic struggles, the overall tone is lighthearted. My favorite scenes were probably when Kay was high on pain meds during her first “date” with Gerald, and when Kay gets her hair stuck after a night of painting. The quippy dialogue and funny situations make for a breezy read:
“Well, Bridgette,” Bernard announced, his annoyed voice carrying across the yard. “It seems like I’ve been ordered to come over and pretend to like you.”
“And why are you going to do that? You trying to get back into my auctions?” she asked. Relief at having company relaxed her square shoulders.
“Seems Kay needs to take your class next week, and somebody has to kiss your rear-end.”
“I hope you brought lip gloss,” she replied.
He mockingly pretended to search his pockets. “Nope. Don’t have none on me. Guess I better pucker-up dry.”
I’d recommend that other readers go into this book expecting a story that belongs on the “women’s fiction/chick-lit” shelf rather than full-on romance, and it will especially appeal to those looking to learn about a niche industry like auctioneering. I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest review, and although I tend to go easier on debuts, I truly enjoyed the afternoon I spent reading this book, and I look forward to seeing what else this author writes.
June 17, 2021
~I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.~
This was an interesting romance.
The good:
The writing style was nice, flowy, and easy to follow.
The ending was sweet.
Even though it was written in a 3rd person pov, it was mostly in Kay's "perspective", and the author managed the whole thing very well (writing from the opposite gender's pov)
The not-so-good:
Poor Kay. It felt like all that happened to her was tragedy after tragedy, and it was just getting depressing after a while.
The characters could have also been more developed, and I just couldn't sympathize with some of them.
All in all, I was a little disappointed, since I had higher hopes for this book.
This was an interesting romance.
The good:
The writing style was nice, flowy, and easy to follow.
The ending was sweet.
Even though it was written in a 3rd person pov, it was mostly in Kay's "perspective", and the author managed the whole thing very well (writing from the opposite gender's pov)
The not-so-good:
Poor Kay. It felt like all that happened to her was tragedy after tragedy, and it was just getting depressing after a while.
The characters could have also been more developed, and I just couldn't sympathize with some of them.
All in all, I was a little disappointed, since I had higher hopes for this book.
September 6, 2020
Antique store owner Kay left college to keep the family business going after the tragic death of her parents, and her grandfather and his girlfriend brought the store to the brink of closure. Struggling to make ends meet, Kay knows that getting her auctioneer license will help her financially, and Gerald, her secret crush and a local auctioneer, offers to help. Can Kay overcome her intense fear of public speaking? Can she save her business before it’s too late? And what will she do about her ever-growing feelings for Gerald?
Kay is a strong and relatable protagonist who deals with many challenges. She’s trying to save the family business while obtaining her auction license and struggling with her fear of public speaking. Plus, Kay is grieving the loss of her parents and has to deal with her grandfather’s greedy, money-hungry girlfriend. Kay’s burdens are great, but she never gives up. I admire her determination and work ethic even when the odds are totally against her.
I also like the sweet romance between Kay and Gerald. Their humorous and flirtatious banter is often filled with pop culture references, and their awkward moments are laugh-out-loud funny. I like how Kay and Gerald support and encourage each other and that they take the time to get to know each other before jumping into a relationship.
The story delves into universal and relatable situations like grieving the loss of a loved one, aiding family during difficult times, finding love, and overcoming fears. I like that the author showed people dealing with grief and guilt differently. Kay, Bernard (her grandfather), Gerald, and Bridgette (her mentor) all handle life’s struggles differently, and I found that refreshingly realistic. Also realistic is how Kay deals with her fear of public speaking. I felt so bad for her as she became paralyzed with fear, and I rooted for her to overcome her challenges.
A sweet and charming contemporary romance, The Heart’s Bidding is the perfect book for readers who enjoy stories with realistic characters and situations, humorous banter, and a bit of family drama. The story takes place amid the world of auctioneers and auctions, which is also really interesting. Thanks so much to Netgalley and Story Garden for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Kay is a strong and relatable protagonist who deals with many challenges. She’s trying to save the family business while obtaining her auction license and struggling with her fear of public speaking. Plus, Kay is grieving the loss of her parents and has to deal with her grandfather’s greedy, money-hungry girlfriend. Kay’s burdens are great, but she never gives up. I admire her determination and work ethic even when the odds are totally against her.
I also like the sweet romance between Kay and Gerald. Their humorous and flirtatious banter is often filled with pop culture references, and their awkward moments are laugh-out-loud funny. I like how Kay and Gerald support and encourage each other and that they take the time to get to know each other before jumping into a relationship.
The story delves into universal and relatable situations like grieving the loss of a loved one, aiding family during difficult times, finding love, and overcoming fears. I like that the author showed people dealing with grief and guilt differently. Kay, Bernard (her grandfather), Gerald, and Bridgette (her mentor) all handle life’s struggles differently, and I found that refreshingly realistic. Also realistic is how Kay deals with her fear of public speaking. I felt so bad for her as she became paralyzed with fear, and I rooted for her to overcome her challenges.
A sweet and charming contemporary romance, The Heart’s Bidding is the perfect book for readers who enjoy stories with realistic characters and situations, humorous banter, and a bit of family drama. The story takes place amid the world of auctioneers and auctions, which is also really interesting. Thanks so much to Netgalley and Story Garden for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
October 5, 2020
Kaylee Heart loves her family's antique shop and it crushes her soul that it is in financial straits. She's petrified of speaking in public and can't fathom how the local auctioneer she's been crushing on, Gerald, can act so confident on the job. She'll do anything to keep her family business afloat, even if it means overcoming her fear of public speaking and becoming an auctioneer. Will she swallow her terror and realize how much fun it can be or will she buckle under the pressure? She just might find her own heart is the next item up for bid.
The Heart's Bidding is such a fun romantic comedy. From the moment I started reading, I connected with Kaylee. Her crush on the smooth-talking Gerald plus all her other innermost thoughts had me laughing out loud. The sparring between the hero and heroine is witty, charming, and simply wonderful to read. The light-hearted humor expressed by many of the characters uplifted my heart. The romance itself bloomed slowly and I found myself falling in love with Gerald, too. The writing style is sublime with equal parts humor, romance, enduring the pitfalls of life, and overcoming fears. I loved this debut romance by Jordan Riley Swan. I look forward to reading more from her. Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
The Heart's Bidding is such a fun romantic comedy. From the moment I started reading, I connected with Kaylee. Her crush on the smooth-talking Gerald plus all her other innermost thoughts had me laughing out loud. The sparring between the hero and heroine is witty, charming, and simply wonderful to read. The light-hearted humor expressed by many of the characters uplifted my heart. The romance itself bloomed slowly and I found myself falling in love with Gerald, too. The writing style is sublime with equal parts humor, romance, enduring the pitfalls of life, and overcoming fears. I loved this debut romance by Jordan Riley Swan. I look forward to reading more from her. Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
September 4, 2020
Okay so I liked this book but I don’t know if it would be memorable in six months time for me. It’s a story about Kay and her family’s antique shop. She worked crazy hours and faced many obstacles to save the family’s business. I liked Kay and her motivation to work hard and to save the family’s business. She’s driven to be the best in the business and to take care of her grandfather. What I didn’t care for was grandpa. He had no interest in the business or the welfare of his granddaughter. I was bored with the auctioneer classes. I skimmed through those paragraphs. Gerald was a great love interest and partner. The romance between them was a slow slow slow burn. Though I have to say the ending was very cute. Overall, it was a cute romance that would make you smile in the end.
I received the ARC from the publisher and Netgalley for my honest review. Thank you for my copy.
I received the ARC from the publisher and Netgalley for my honest review. Thank you for my copy.
August 30, 2020
You'll enjoy this clean romance. The book is witty, amusing, and fun to read. One thing you'll learn is that it'll definitely change your personality if you confuse Tylenol with Vicodin. Kaylee and Gerald will grab your heart in this slow-burn romance. Their back and forth banter was cute. The other characters were interesting. A good book that I read as an arc via Book Sirens and voluntarily chose to review.
January 8, 2021
Loved this sweet romance! Lyrical, emotional, funny. Listened to it on audio and Xe Sands brought this story to life in a beautiful way.
September 4, 2025
I recently read The Heart's Bidding by Jordan Riley Swan. I received an advance reader copy, and I am so glad I signed up to get it. It was excellent, and if you like gentle romance, family drama, and a persevering heroine, you will love this book.
This story is about Kaylee Heart. She is a young woman running her family antique store business for her grandfather in the wake of a tragic accident where her parents were killed. To make a go of it, she has resorted to supplementing the business with online auctions, only to find out the state laws require her to have an auctioneer's license.
She goes to auctions regularly to find great pieces to refinish for the business, and she knows a woman who runs an auction school. It seems like it will be easy to save the failing family business by going to auction school. The reward? Running her online auctions legally so the antique store can thrive, and spending more time around the handsome auctioneer who is teaching this class. The problem? She gets physically ill speaking in public, and the business is so threatened she can't afford auction school.
Kaylee's problems just get worse from here, and continue for the length of the book. Swan sets up a great character I sympathize with right away, and immediately made things difficult for her. It was so gripping I had to keep turning the page to figure out how she resolved everything. I had a hard time putting the book down. I genuinely loved this character and hated all the things that got thrown her way - financial disaster, humiliation, physical pain, emotional trauma, this book had it all. But it just made the story better. As a writer, I was so impressed with the author's ability to keep the tension and trouble heightened all the way through the book.
This story features a very gentle romance. It was just what I like - important to the story, but not the only thing the book was about. The main character had PLENTY of other problems to solve. That's not to say that the road to happily ever after was a stroll in the park, because the author complicates romance for Kaylee and her man also.
As I research Jordan Riley Swan, this appears to be a debut novel. I am impressed that it turned out so strong. The cover art is fantastic too. I will definitely watch for more work from this author.
This story is about Kaylee Heart. She is a young woman running her family antique store business for her grandfather in the wake of a tragic accident where her parents were killed. To make a go of it, she has resorted to supplementing the business with online auctions, only to find out the state laws require her to have an auctioneer's license.
She goes to auctions regularly to find great pieces to refinish for the business, and she knows a woman who runs an auction school. It seems like it will be easy to save the failing family business by going to auction school. The reward? Running her online auctions legally so the antique store can thrive, and spending more time around the handsome auctioneer who is teaching this class. The problem? She gets physically ill speaking in public, and the business is so threatened she can't afford auction school.
Kaylee's problems just get worse from here, and continue for the length of the book. Swan sets up a great character I sympathize with right away, and immediately made things difficult for her. It was so gripping I had to keep turning the page to figure out how she resolved everything. I had a hard time putting the book down. I genuinely loved this character and hated all the things that got thrown her way - financial disaster, humiliation, physical pain, emotional trauma, this book had it all. But it just made the story better. As a writer, I was so impressed with the author's ability to keep the tension and trouble heightened all the way through the book.
This story features a very gentle romance. It was just what I like - important to the story, but not the only thing the book was about. The main character had PLENTY of other problems to solve. That's not to say that the road to happily ever after was a stroll in the park, because the author complicates romance for Kaylee and her man also.
As I research Jordan Riley Swan, this appears to be a debut novel. I am impressed that it turned out so strong. The cover art is fantastic too. I will definitely watch for more work from this author.
September 27, 2020
The Heart's Bidding touched on a subject I knew very little about (auctioneering) and I loved getting a glimpse at something new to me.
This is a very sweet and G rated romance with Kaylee and Gerald. Both are likeable and I rooted for them easily. I laughed out loud at some of Kay's comments to Gerald during a scene where she is not quite in control of all her faculties. Probably my favorite part of the whole book
A large part of the storyline for Kay follows the old adage "if it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all." Just a small complaint, but I wish she had experienced a little less of the bad and a little more of the sweet and fun interactions with Gerald and her grandfather.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a very sweet and G rated romance with Kaylee and Gerald. Both are likeable and I rooted for them easily. I laughed out loud at some of Kay's comments to Gerald during a scene where she is not quite in control of all her faculties. Probably my favorite part of the whole book
A large part of the storyline for Kay follows the old adage "if it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all." Just a small complaint, but I wish she had experienced a little less of the bad and a little more of the sweet and fun interactions with Gerald and her grandfather.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 6, 2020
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
The Heart's Bidding with its gorgeous cover is the story of Kay, a young woman trying to save her family vintage shop, following her through this struggle and falling in love with Gerald, a young auctioneer.
I loved to get to know this world of small town auctions and the people who are involved in the process. It was a new world to me, I love how it was pictured in all its grittiness but also in all its sensible nature, as people who put their goods for auctions do this sometimes after all sorts of problems and heartbreaks.
Kay and Gerald are both some really adorable characters and their slow love is sprinkles with little moments of poetry. They are great partners and their support for each other shines beautifully from the pages. There are some charming supporting characters and some little fun moments that make this story a nice read.
This book has a lot of triggers for me so I'm very biased as to not appreciate to its true value. I didn't like how there are so.many.damn.struggles for Kay, and how she sometimes is like a lost rained chicken, vulnerable and somehow submissive to the expectation of others. The truth is almost all through the book she is grieving her parents' loss, she finds little understanding in the beginning from the only relative she has, and there is so much on her shoulders. Her fairy godmother is a gritty business woman who shows her heart and at times steals the show with her strong personality.
There is a strong real feel about this book. It's more real than fantasy and all the main character's struggle can be so easily found in everyday life. It's a lovely read for anyone intrigued a little by this world of auctioning and for anyone searching a clean, sweet romance.
The Heart's Bidding with its gorgeous cover is the story of Kay, a young woman trying to save her family vintage shop, following her through this struggle and falling in love with Gerald, a young auctioneer.
I loved to get to know this world of small town auctions and the people who are involved in the process. It was a new world to me, I love how it was pictured in all its grittiness but also in all its sensible nature, as people who put their goods for auctions do this sometimes after all sorts of problems and heartbreaks.
Kay and Gerald are both some really adorable characters and their slow love is sprinkles with little moments of poetry. They are great partners and their support for each other shines beautifully from the pages. There are some charming supporting characters and some little fun moments that make this story a nice read.
This book has a lot of triggers for me so I'm very biased as to not appreciate to its true value. I didn't like how there are so.many.damn.struggles for Kay, and how she sometimes is like a lost rained chicken, vulnerable and somehow submissive to the expectation of others. The truth is almost all through the book she is grieving her parents' loss, she finds little understanding in the beginning from the only relative she has, and there is so much on her shoulders. Her fairy godmother is a gritty business woman who shows her heart and at times steals the show with her strong personality.
There is a strong real feel about this book. It's more real than fantasy and all the main character's struggle can be so easily found in everyday life. It's a lovely read for anyone intrigued a little by this world of auctioning and for anyone searching a clean, sweet romance.
August 26, 2020
When Kaylee Hart injured herself trying to load that days auction wins. Her grandfather was going to take her to urgent care, but thanks to her gold digging “grandmother“ who had a spontaneous cough he leaves her in the capable hands of Gerald Hearth. Finding out her grandpa gave her Vicodin and not Tylenol, it totally explains the new Kaylee, the flirty Kaylee in the altogether fun Kaylee. She’s having a great time laughing and joking, Even insinuating it’s a date and that it’s the first of other dates to come… That is until right before he’s to bring her home she finds out he did it, because grandpa said he could stay on the clock. So despite the they’re good time (drug induced or not,)with wondering was it authentic or was it all only because he got paid for it. Her crush on Gerald it’s just one of the problems in her life and unfortunately or fortunately for Kaylee to solve any of our problems is going to involve Gerald. This book is so, so good! The way this author writes is so fun and witty the book just flows and to say it is a page turner is to insinuate you’re aware you’re turning the page. I wish I was one of those people who could give you an example of Jordans witty writing, because I know you would then read the book. Just please take my word for it when I say this will be the fastest and funniest read you’ll read month if not this year. I cannot say enough about Jordan Swanson’s The Hearts Bidding is a book you will read once and then read again and again. The ending is worth getting the book for. I was fortunate enough to get the book as an ARC review from book sirens for an honest review and this my friends is my honest opinion and review. This book is great! I cannot wait to read other books by this author.
August 30, 2020
Even though it is labeled a small town romance it is more Like Kaylee and Gerald run in the same circles in different parts of a business that need one another. Gerald is loud, up front, and boisterous and is an excellent auctioneer in a place Kaylee visits frequently to add new old pieces to Her family's store. She is a go getter behind the scenes and could never imagine doing what Gerald does.
I found this plot line SO VERY BELIEVABLE. See grandpa has a new gold digging girlfriend. and when no one is looking Kaylee and everyone else is going to loose everything. Add in the fact that in real life it can take years for some people to get together....so i wouldn't call this a slow burn romance as there is no tension, no will they won't they, it is a slow slow slow romance as you know as soon as Kaylee and Gerald life/work drama subsides they will end up together.
Told in 3rd person this story is so clean it squeaks and so relatable as a contemporary romance you will burn through the pages quickly.
I found this plot line SO VERY BELIEVABLE. See grandpa has a new gold digging girlfriend. and when no one is looking Kaylee and everyone else is going to loose everything. Add in the fact that in real life it can take years for some people to get together....so i wouldn't call this a slow burn romance as there is no tension, no will they won't they, it is a slow slow slow romance as you know as soon as Kaylee and Gerald life/work drama subsides they will end up together.
Told in 3rd person this story is so clean it squeaks and so relatable as a contemporary romance you will burn through the pages quickly.
October 5, 2020
This book if i have to sum up, its is "a warm blanket with a hot cup of cocoa" kinda read. Fuzzy, Oh-so-dramatic and light-hearted, even though it dealt with some serious elements of family and financial struggle.
Kaylee Heart is a true romantic, owner of an antique shop. She's got it all, but well? She is a little (ahem, too much) shy talking in front of a crowd.
Gerald is dreamy, (like literally...) a confident auctioneer, sweet and laid-back. He is a pillar for Kay to lean on, but Kay takes the charge in order to solve her problems on her own.
I knew near to nothing about auctioneering and it was a new premise to look forward to. It turned out to be interesting at most of the parts.
Jordan Riley Swan fills soul to his characters in the story and each one of the characters are unique. (I hate Ruth. Period.)
Its a slow pace, fuzzy read that ended with a smile of contentment.
I'd recommend this to anyone who loves gentle romance and women fiction in general.
Note: I received an advance reader's copy for free and I'm leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are of my own.
Kaylee Heart is a true romantic, owner of an antique shop. She's got it all, but well? She is a little (ahem, too much) shy talking in front of a crowd.
Gerald is dreamy, (like literally...) a confident auctioneer, sweet and laid-back. He is a pillar for Kay to lean on, but Kay takes the charge in order to solve her problems on her own.
I knew near to nothing about auctioneering and it was a new premise to look forward to. It turned out to be interesting at most of the parts.
Jordan Riley Swan fills soul to his characters in the story and each one of the characters are unique. (I hate Ruth. Period.)
Its a slow pace, fuzzy read that ended with a smile of contentment.
I'd recommend this to anyone who loves gentle romance and women fiction in general.
Note: I received an advance reader's copy for free and I'm leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are of my own.
September 5, 2020
*ARC provided by BookSirens in exchange for an honest review
While I truly enjoyed the author's writing style, the structure and pace of this book felt inherently flawed. Based on the blurb, I went in expecting a light-hearted romance with some of the plot focusing on the protagonist's fixer-upper of a shop.
But what I got instead was a very confusing mix of scattered plotlines juxtaposed with side characters and relationships that weren't central to the story. Numerous chapters map out the protagonist's struggle to a point of repetition. And while I usually enjoy slow-burn romance, there was a lack of excitement in Kay and Gerald's relationship, which made the conclusion fall flat.
If you asked me what this book was ultimately about, I couldn't tell you. There's not enough romance in it for it to be a romance novel. And while I enjoyed the tidbits about auctioneering, I don't think they help in pinning down the central theme of this book.
That being said, I do believe in the author's writing style and hope to see her churn out something more in the future.
While I truly enjoyed the author's writing style, the structure and pace of this book felt inherently flawed. Based on the blurb, I went in expecting a light-hearted romance with some of the plot focusing on the protagonist's fixer-upper of a shop.
But what I got instead was a very confusing mix of scattered plotlines juxtaposed with side characters and relationships that weren't central to the story. Numerous chapters map out the protagonist's struggle to a point of repetition. And while I usually enjoy slow-burn romance, there was a lack of excitement in Kay and Gerald's relationship, which made the conclusion fall flat.
If you asked me what this book was ultimately about, I couldn't tell you. There's not enough romance in it for it to be a romance novel. And while I enjoyed the tidbits about auctioneering, I don't think they help in pinning down the central theme of this book.
That being said, I do believe in the author's writing style and hope to see her churn out something more in the future.
September 2, 2020
This book is fine, it is well written, but I just had a bit of trouble really engaging in it. I think that's because it is so much about the auction culture that I know nothing about and can't relate to. The main character had so many things go wrong even though she worked very hard that I felt bad for her. Her grandfather was not much help to her, even though it was his business she was trying to save. The romance was kind of on the back burner for most of the story. If you are looking for steamy sex scenes you won't find them in this book, which I actually prefer, so that was a plus for me. The writing is very descriptive and poetic at tines. I got this book from Book Sirens as an Advanced Reader Copy.
September 4, 2020
This is my first read by this author. It was very different from what I usually read, but surprisingly I loved it.
Both Kay and Gerald just wanted to keep their family legacies alive and strive for a happy and successful future. I loved how they instantly got on when they first met. I absolutely loved that the question he was going to ask was revealed at the end.
Kay reminded me of myself at some parts, specifically when it came to her wanting to live up to everyone’s expectations of her. I understand that all too well.
Great read!
Both Kay and Gerald just wanted to keep their family legacies alive and strive for a happy and successful future. I loved how they instantly got on when they first met. I absolutely loved that the question he was going to ask was revealed at the end.
Kay reminded me of myself at some parts, specifically when it came to her wanting to live up to everyone’s expectations of her. I understand that all too well.
Great read!
September 1, 2020
I loved the story line of this book. It had a small town feel with several real world and modern struggles that are relevant to our times. The development of the characters and the the description of the scenes were precise in allowing the reader to place themselves into the story. I often don't make enough time to read, but I finished this book rather quickly as I could not put it down. Well done.
September 10, 2020
This is my first look inside how auctions work and never gave thought as to what it takes to pull one off. There’s buried treasures under some of the dirt and grime. Gerald and Kaylee...what a pair they made!! Talk about bad luck AND timing; these two had both in abundance but some of it was funny. Wasn’t a fan of Ruth or Bernard taking her side over black and white proof. I’ve always been taught, bought sense is the best sense...and he most DEFINITELY paid out the butt for his!! This was a nice, CLEAN read with lots of tears, frustrations, bloopers, romance and fun.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 8, 2020
The Heart's Bidding is a sweet, heartfelt romance. It's the perfect feel-good read, managing to find balance by being lighthearted and still having a lot going on below the surface.
It gives an interesting glimpse into the auctioneering world. Kay has enough on her plate with her grandfather's gold-digging girlfriend. To make things worse, her family business is in grave danger. To save it, she'll have to face her worst fear: public speaking. Luckily, she finds her support system in Gerald (the handsome auctioneer), Bridgette (her mentor), and her grandfather.
This was such an innocent (and at times corny) read, and made my heart smile all the way.
(e-ARC provided by BookSirens and publisher in exchange for an honest review)
It gives an interesting glimpse into the auctioneering world. Kay has enough on her plate with her grandfather's gold-digging girlfriend. To make things worse, her family business is in grave danger. To save it, she'll have to face her worst fear: public speaking. Luckily, she finds her support system in Gerald (the handsome auctioneer), Bridgette (her mentor), and her grandfather.
This was such an innocent (and at times corny) read, and made my heart smile all the way.
(e-ARC provided by BookSirens and publisher in exchange for an honest review)
August 31, 2020
A meandering story of ups and downs in Kays life. There were so many things that Kay had to face from keeping the family business afloat to family dynamics, dealing with personal insecurities and potential romance with Gregory. Kay’s involvement in auctioneer classes did not really work for me although some of her very awkward moments made me smile. In the end, I found the HEA was satisfying.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 3, 2020
This was a really sweet love story. The characters had to endure many emotions and family issues but there was a happy ending. The author did. A great job with character descriptions and describing the surroundings....I could clearly visualize the setting. Sweet, wholesome, feel good story.
April 1, 2021
Good book, but I was ready to give it up, but then it got real interesting
June 15, 2021
Such a unique and captivating romance. Follow Kaylee's struggles and the strength within her as she battles her fears and finds love.
August 24, 2020
What a beautiful novel! A slow burn romance novel that surely gets you out of book slump!
Even though this is a clean no smut romance, it is an extremely enjoyable read, filled with that humour, correction and spark that we all look for with the perfect dash of hurdles.
There are so many moments where you * 𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘯*
Excellent writing, amazing characters and one heck of a plot.
There's no doubt that I will be going back to this one!
(𝘏𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘷𝘪𝘢 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘴.)
Even though this is a clean no smut romance, it is an extremely enjoyable read, filled with that humour, correction and spark that we all look for with the perfect dash of hurdles.
There are so many moments where you * 𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘯*
Excellent writing, amazing characters and one heck of a plot.
There's no doubt that I will be going back to this one!
(𝘏𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘷𝘪𝘢 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘴.)
October 18, 2020
I fully enjoyed reviewing this book for Book Sirens. So many times when I read a story I am reminded of other stories that I have read but not so with this book. It is a romantic love story but the female in this is not your typical woman. We look at a young woman who is extremely shy who leaves college to help her grandfather save the family antique/resale shop after her parents are killed in a car accident.
We follow her story through the hardships of what happens when an elderly woman makes a play for her grandfather with totally wrong intentions and how our Kaylee must work to try and not only break up the romance but take control of the business. All the while she has fallen for an auctioneer Gerald and works to get him to notice her.
In this mix also is her deceased Grandmothers best friend Bridgette who is stirring the pot and trying to turn Kaylee into an auctioneer....with disastrous consequences.
This is a good clean book that will lift your mood and spirit and make you want to attend an auction at her store.....A great winter read in a comfortable chair and a good cup of coco....
We follow her story through the hardships of what happens when an elderly woman makes a play for her grandfather with totally wrong intentions and how our Kaylee must work to try and not only break up the romance but take control of the business. All the while she has fallen for an auctioneer Gerald and works to get him to notice her.
In this mix also is her deceased Grandmothers best friend Bridgette who is stirring the pot and trying to turn Kaylee into an auctioneer....with disastrous consequences.
This is a good clean book that will lift your mood and spirit and make you want to attend an auction at her store.....A great winter read in a comfortable chair and a good cup of coco....
May 2, 2022
Sweet clean romance
This was a fun, light read. It's a clean romance with a really fascinating and in depth look at auctioneering as a career.
There's something very cinematic about the way the author writes and add that to the cadence of auction chants and this book is very vivid even if the plotting is unsurprising.
Really a sweet, slow burn (with a low flame) kind of read. But perfect at what it is trying to be.
This was a fun, light read. It's a clean romance with a really fascinating and in depth look at auctioneering as a career.
There's something very cinematic about the way the author writes and add that to the cadence of auction chants and this book is very vivid even if the plotting is unsurprising.
Really a sweet, slow burn (with a low flame) kind of read. But perfect at what it is trying to be.
August 22, 2020
This book is a lovely mix of modern life and odd whimsical moments. A slow burn developing romance, barely a kiss exchanged, no sex , occasional fun dialogue , family drama, wrapped in sharp observations and some lovely descriptive moments.
My favourite : “Kay wanted to collect his laugh in hand labelled mason jars and lock them in the cupboard of her heart “.
If you like this, you’ll love the book .
A glimpse into Gerald’s mind might have earned the 5th star ⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
My favourite : “Kay wanted to collect his laugh in hand labelled mason jars and lock them in the cupboard of her heart “.
If you like this, you’ll love the book .
A glimpse into Gerald’s mind might have earned the 5th star ⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 3, 2020
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of The Heart's Bidding via Booksirens in exchange for an honest review.
While written and with a definitely unique setting for a romance (seriously, I never knew how much one person could possibly learn about being an auctioneer but this book gave me a newfound respect for auctions) The Heart's Bidding pulls itself in too many directions. While that strategy will definitely increase the amount of readers who will have a passing affection for the story, it significantly decreases the amount of people who will be able to love this and remember it long after reading.
The Heart's Bidding is a little slice of life, a little clean romance, a little family drama, and a little romcom. Tonally it was difficult to follow since some of the characters felt really realistic but others felt like caricatures I was supposed to laugh at. I wish Swan had chosen one main genre to lean into because the result was a lot of elements that had an okay set up but a poor pay off. I was never able to really care about the romance at this book's center because of how little page time it got and wish we spent more time building up the core couple and less time talking about one of the side characters who was ultimately pretty unimportant to the plot.
While written and with a definitely unique setting for a romance (seriously, I never knew how much one person could possibly learn about being an auctioneer but this book gave me a newfound respect for auctions) The Heart's Bidding pulls itself in too many directions. While that strategy will definitely increase the amount of readers who will have a passing affection for the story, it significantly decreases the amount of people who will be able to love this and remember it long after reading.
The Heart's Bidding is a little slice of life, a little clean romance, a little family drama, and a little romcom. Tonally it was difficult to follow since some of the characters felt really realistic but others felt like caricatures I was supposed to laugh at. I wish Swan had chosen one main genre to lean into because the result was a lot of elements that had an okay set up but a poor pay off. I was never able to really care about the romance at this book's center because of how little page time it got and wish we spent more time building up the core couple and less time talking about one of the side characters who was ultimately pretty unimportant to the plot.
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