What the Heart Wants

Ivy Parker abandoned her dreams when her unfaithful husband died and she lost her unborn child. Despite her longing for a traditional home and family, she recreates a family with what little it left to her - a ramshackle town and an elderly aunt. She dreams now of bringing new life to the dying town, but that requires an answer from the illusive owner of most of the town's buildings. Unfortunately, the owner seems to prefer to hiding behind an anonymous PO Box rather than making much needed repairs. Ivy does not know her letters have been received and that Lincoln Galloway III comes to investigate the letter writer. His faded jeans and battered truck bespeak a kind of soul weariness that appeals to Ivy. When she offers his room and board in exchange for a bit of labor, Linc accepts, planning to use the job for a quick, covert examination of the properties that are all that remains of his brother's widow's assets. He does not intend to come to admire Ivy's spunk, or to enjoy her scent of cinnamon and flowers. Only too soon, however, Linc finds himself facing an impasse as he does not see a way to protect his sister-in-law's needs without destroying Ivy's dream.Learning to listen to one's heart provides powerful motivation in Jean Brashear's WHAT THE HEART WANTS. Brashear captures these powerful motives and emotions with a graceful narrative rich in nuance. Impossibilities and contradictions lend powerful tension as Ivy struggles to rediscover her dreams and Linc struggles with self-forgiveness. Disillusionment with past dreams seems to warn the heart away, yet neither Ivy nor Linc seem to be able to resist the call of love -- or know quite what to do with it. Secondary characters, particularly the mature romance that evolves concerning Ivy's aunt, provide touching entertainment. Readers will eagerly look forward to the next installment of series concerning Ivy's sister Caroline in THE HEALER next year. WHAT THE HEART WANTS comes very highly recommended.