His Heart's Desire

Loving Hearts, Book 1

By: Julianna Douglas

Narrated by: Melissa Sternenberg

Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Two best friends find a fairy-tale love in this emotional and sweetly sensual contemporary romance.

Rebecca Anderson always dreamed of happily-ever-after, but those dreams were shaken when she had to leave vet school to nurse her dying mother. They were completely shattered when her boyfriend betrayed her in the cruelest possible way. Crushed and lonely, Becca seeks out the one person she knows she can trust - her best friend, Ethan.

Successful CEO Ethan Montgomery has loved Becca since the day he met her while volunteering at a local animal shelter. Seeing her emotionally broken on his doorstep stirs his protective instincts. He tenderly cares for her, but knows that Becca will need time and space to heal her battered heart.

When Becca realizes that the white knight of her fantasies has been right in front of her this whole time, she begins to dream again of her future - one that includes Ethan. But their undeclared love is put to the test when Ethan's wealth and power, as well as a woman from his past, threaten to tear them apart. Will a surprise invitation from Ethan finally fulfill all of Becca's romantic fantasies and prove that only she is His Heart's Desire?

©2014 Julianna Douglas (P)2016 Julianna Douglas

A sweet, hometown cozy romance!

Would you try another book from Julianna Douglas and/or Melissa Sternenberg?

I’m not sure if I would try another novel by Julianna Douglas because her storytelling style isn’t one I read much anymore. I am glad that I finally gave one of her novels a try though after having her on my radar for quite a while courtesy of her blog and our mutual love of the paranormal vampire Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward. As for the narrator, Melissa Sterneberg, I would definitely give another audiobook of hers a try. I liked her voice and acting choices quite a bit.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I don’t really have any criticism on the story because I know there is an audience for it. It was well-written and will appeal to readers who enjoy a sweet romance with racy thoughts, mild drama, a slow burn sexual tension and a traditional resolution.

What does Melissa Sternenberg bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I thought she animated the characters well and made the novel more of a quick read for me than if I had read it with my own eyes. My e-book reading speed has diminished drastically in general for all story genres and tropes. So it was actually a relief to have a talented narrator keep me invested in the story’s outcome.

Did His Heart's Desire inspire you to do anything?

No, but I didn’t expect it to do so.

Any additional comments?

I really loved the hero Ethan. I love the alpha male trope under the right circumstance. In this case, it was refreshing to have a hero who was genuinely a nice guy instead of one who started out as an alpha jerk that had to be inspired by the heroine to reveal his inner good guy.

Sugary sweet!

Ethan will make you wish you had a man like him in your life.
Good story. Heroine Becca is a bit fragile after some things she has to go through but Ethan is there for her every step of the way waiting in the wings just to make her his.