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Romance from the Heart #2
Wise at Heart
When Daniel Quintana needs a summer nanny for his twins, it only makes sense to hire Tabitha Moore. Just back from an extended mission trip, she needs the job. The fact that she was his wife’s best friend shouldn’t matter, and neither should the fact that he finds her attractive. Daniel’s not in the market for relationships because he’s just so bad at them.
Tabitha Moore doesn’t want to work for Daniel, because she knows a terrible secret about his daughters. But when staying with her sister is no longer an option, she feels like she has no choice. After all, it’s just for the summer…
With the help of Daniel’s five-year-old twins, Daniel and Tabitha start to become more than friends. Growing vegetables, rescuing a mama cat and her kittens, eating delicious Mexican food at El Corazon… all of it makes these two lonely souls crave to create a family long term… unless Tabitha’s secret rips apart everything they’re starting to build.
Tabitha Moore doesn’t want to work for Daniel, because she knows a terrible secret about his daughters. But when staying with her sister is no longer an option, she feels like she has no choice. After all, it’s just for the summer…
With the help of Daniel’s five-year-old twins, Daniel and Tabitha start to become more than friends. Growing vegetables, rescuing a mama cat and her kittens, eating delicious Mexican food at El Corazon… all of it makes these two lonely souls crave to create a family long term… unless Tabitha’s secret rips apart everything they’re starting to build.
- GenresRomance
184 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2017
39 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Lee Tobin McClain
170 books512 followersNew York Times bestselling author of emotional, heartwarming romances. Visit http://www.leetobinmcclain.com to join newsletter, get book release details, and find out more.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 6, 2020
While second in a series (I don't count the multi-author monstrosity this is also part of), they aren't really connected much, despite main characters being related. So you can read this one on its own without fear, I think.
As with the first, this story's greatest strength is how well-integrated a life of Christian faith is into the characters. They pray, they talk, they act and they forgive and, more importantly, they fail, they make mistakes, they work on being better, and they repent. It's all very well-done and I do love seeing a strong depiction of faith that holds together.
Unfortunately, the romance part of this story is a ginormous mess. Both main characters have negative motivations* that arise out of feelings of inadequacy. Tabitha's is the biggest stretch as she blames herself for inattention when she was five with tragic results. And yes, that actually is a giant disconnect for someone living a life of faith based on repentance and forgiveness and I'd gripe about that more except that I liked seeing that moment of grace as she learned to forgive herself, here. But it was still a giant brake on plot that every negative motivation is and it was still tedious to get through.
The details behind Tabitha's secret was a fascinating one to see play out in the story. I'm not going to spoiler it or go into details except to say that her "best friend" and Daniel's dead wife was a horrible person and while the situation was interesting in a "faith can work through even terrible dilemmas" way, it also reflected extremely poorly on both that they were friends with/married to her.
Dragging this further down was a dark moment that was justified, kind of, but then aborted way too fast in order to wrap things up. They had enough emotional baggage to overcome that going the standard "dark moment -> grand gesture" path was both obvious and not enough. It's like, if you have a character shot during a climactic scene and then have them in a cute little sling at their wedding the next morning. Only you swap the gun out for Big Bertha (because way more interesting, obviously) but still expect the character to be at their wedding the next morning.
I'm going to give this a very wobbly three stars (or strong two stars) and that's mainly because I still like McClain's depictions of faith. I just hope her other work does better on the romance than this one did.
A note about Chaste: Characters in this story are committed to Christian faith and expect sexual intimacy to be part of marriage. So while there is some kissing, nothing more happens in the story.
* Negative Motivations: I kind of hate that the term "negative motivation" isn't widespread, yet. Since it isn't, I'm going to save off this little jag to append to my reviews that feature the term. Jennifer Crusie blogged about it a bit back (or, if that link doesn't work, here's a cache of the original) and it changed how I understand story. The problem with the term is that if you've never heard it before, you'd assume it meant motivations that are harmful or immoral. Not so. What it refers to is motivations not to do something. The thing is that many of us are motivated to not do things for a lot of different, perfectly valid and reasonable, reasons. The problem is that in a story motivations to not do things are a huge drag on the plot—particularly considering the fact that most negative motivations are overcome by the character simply deciding they don't care any more (or, rather, that they do care and are now motivated to do the thing). So not only do you have a counter to action but you also have a situation where to overcome it, all a character has to do is change their mind. Which means eventually, the reader is rooting for the character to get over him/herself already and do the thing we want them to do. Conflict drives story. Conflict between a reader and a main character drives readers away from story.
As with the first, this story's greatest strength is how well-integrated a life of Christian faith is into the characters. They pray, they talk, they act and they forgive and, more importantly, they fail, they make mistakes, they work on being better, and they repent. It's all very well-done and I do love seeing a strong depiction of faith that holds together.
Unfortunately, the romance part of this story is a ginormous mess. Both main characters have negative motivations* that arise out of feelings of inadequacy. Tabitha's is the biggest stretch as she blames herself for inattention when she was five with tragic results. And yes, that actually is a giant disconnect for someone living a life of faith based on repentance and forgiveness and I'd gripe about that more except that I liked seeing that moment of grace as she learned to forgive herself, here. But it was still a giant brake on plot that every negative motivation is and it was still tedious to get through.
The details behind Tabitha's secret was a fascinating one to see play out in the story. I'm not going to spoiler it or go into details except to say that her "best friend" and Daniel's dead wife was a horrible person and while the situation was interesting in a "faith can work through even terrible dilemmas" way, it also reflected extremely poorly on both that they were friends with/married to her.
Dragging this further down was a dark moment that was justified, kind of, but then aborted way too fast in order to wrap things up. They had enough emotional baggage to overcome that going the standard "dark moment -> grand gesture" path was both obvious and not enough. It's like, if you have a character shot during a climactic scene and then have them in a cute little sling at their wedding the next morning. Only you swap the gun out for Big Bertha (because way more interesting, obviously) but still expect the character to be at their wedding the next morning.
I'm going to give this a very wobbly three stars (or strong two stars) and that's mainly because I still like McClain's depictions of faith. I just hope her other work does better on the romance than this one did.
A note about Chaste: Characters in this story are committed to Christian faith and expect sexual intimacy to be part of marriage. So while there is some kissing, nothing more happens in the story.
* Negative Motivations: I kind of hate that the term "negative motivation" isn't widespread, yet. Since it isn't, I'm going to save off this little jag to append to my reviews that feature the term. Jennifer Crusie blogged about it a bit back (or, if that link doesn't work, here's a cache of the original) and it changed how I understand story. The problem with the term is that if you've never heard it before, you'd assume it meant motivations that are harmful or immoral. Not so. What it refers to is motivations not to do something. The thing is that many of us are motivated to not do things for a lot of different, perfectly valid and reasonable, reasons. The problem is that in a story motivations to not do things are a huge drag on the plot—particularly considering the fact that most negative motivations are overcome by the character simply deciding they don't care any more (or, rather, that they do care and are now motivated to do the thing). So not only do you have a counter to action but you also have a situation where to overcome it, all a character has to do is change their mind. Which means eventually, the reader is rooting for the character to get over him/herself already and do the thing we want them to do. Conflict drives story. Conflict between a reader and a main character drives readers away from story.
August 12, 2018
I have been enjoying my way through this multi-author series. This one focuses on Daniel, the 3rd Quintana brother and the only one not involved with El Corazon, the family restaurant. He is a widower raising 5 year old twin girls and putting in long hours as a chiropractor. He is running through nannies due to his high standards and over-protective nature. Tabitha has just returned from mission work in Tanzania and needs both a job and a place to live. When she mentions this to her friend Veronica Quintana, she is put in touch with Daniel about the nanny position. Another great romance that had me in tears at the wonder of how God works in our lives.
October 21, 2017
Delightful romance with well developed characters. Lee Tobin McClain writes a well crafted with surprising twist and turn plot including real life issues: twins, finding appropriate child care, rescuing cats, growing vegetables, eating vegan and keeping secrets. Even though this is part of Arcadia Valley Series or McClain's Romance from the Heart series, the romance can be read as a stand alone. As a retired Midwest teacher, mother, grandmother I related with the rural farm community and struggles of today's young adults in their relationships and day to day life caring for their families.
August 5, 2018
Daniel has been on his own raising his twin girls since their mom’s death. Tabitha is nearly returned to Arcadia Valley from a mission trip and needs some work while she works on funding for an idea she has. She takes the job Daniel offers as a nanny for his girls, even knowing how hard it will be for her due to the secret she knows about. Both have guilt to work through to be able to appreciate what is before them. A moving story that is hard to put down.
October 22, 2017
I loved this romance between Tabitha and Daniel.
They had to get past their differences to find love.
I loved the characters,new and old, the foodie culture and beautiful Acadia Valley.
This book is recommended for those who love romance and the foodie culture.
They had to get past their differences to find love.
I loved the characters,new and old, the foodie culture and beautiful Acadia Valley.
This book is recommended for those who love romance and the foodie culture.
October 23, 2017
Tabitha and Daniel's story is so very well written and engaging from the opening paragraph. As the story moves along, we get to meet with others in the Arcadia Valley series. Old friends and new enhance this love story. Highly recommend
October 25, 2017
I continue to follow the Arcadia Valley authors as they present their sequel books every month. In this story, we are rooting for Tabitha and Daniel, both reluctant to get involved. But there are so many reasons why they should be together.
October 26, 2017
Wonderful book
I love this author's writing and the editing on her books is always great. I loved everything about this book and I especially loved the characters. They became friends and I really hated to see the book end.
I love this author's writing and the editing on her books is always great. I loved everything about this book and I especially loved the characters. They became friends and I really hated to see the book end.
October 29, 2017
Well done
Love these books! Would love to live in a community like this. This book tackles a really hard issue very well. So true, how dysfunctional families leave a wake of brokenness behind. However, God can make good out of any/all of it. So encouraging. A great read!
Love these books! Would love to live in a community like this. This book tackles a really hard issue very well. So true, how dysfunctional families leave a wake of brokenness behind. However, God can make good out of any/all of it. So encouraging. A great read!
April 28, 2018
Sweet, but complex love story
I really appreciate how realistically life was portrayed in this story. Everyone's backstory was messy and it has an impact on their lives and how they reacted. The message behind the story was positive and uplifting. Well done!
I really appreciate how realistically life was portrayed in this story. Everyone's backstory was messy and it has an impact on their lives and how they reacted. The message behind the story was positive and uplifting. Well done!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews