Hearts at Play

Love in Bloom: The Bradens, Book 6

By: Melissa Foster

Narrated by: B.J. Harrison

Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's Summary

Brianna Heart has a six-year old daughter and a 12-year plan to keep her life as simple as possible until Layla turns 18. That means swearing off relationships and the drama that goes along with them, working two jobs, and being the best damn mother she can be.

The last thing Capital Series Grand Prix racer Hugh Braden wants after dating media-hungry leggy models and money-hungry fan girls is a blind date. But how could he turn down a favor to one of his best friends? Hugh expected the date to go poorly, but he didn't expect to be intensely attracted to the beautiful brown-eyed bartender who completely blows him off - and steals his every thought thereafter.

When Brianna's perfectly orchestrated life turns upside down, Hugh is there to help, softening the turmoil, and maybe even rescuing her heart from the lonely place where it has been hiding. Can a man who doesn't believe in fate and a woman who doesn't believe in true love find happiness in each other's arms forever?

©2014 Melissa Foster (P)2015 Melissa Foster

LOVE LOVE LOVE THE BRADENS!!!

What did you love best about Hearts at Play?

I'm n love with Hugh Braden. Glad I got to hear his story. Love all the Bradens. Love Layla & Brianna

What did you like best about this story?

BJ Harrison is the perfect narrator for this series.

Which scene was your favorite?

It's a toss up between the scene were he planned the first date planned for Brianna and the surprise production of the play for Layla. I literally swooned.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. Started it Sunday Morning, finished Sunday night.

Any additional comments?

I cannot wait to for hear the rest of the stories and the Remingtons side. The chapter 1 teaser at the end of this audiobook have be salavating to know about Dex. Can't wait for the rest of the stories in the series. I'm on pins and needles for the next audiobook. Please don't make me wait too long.

Racing to the Finish

This book wraps up the Braden series with Hugh Braden’s story. Hugh is a top-notch race car driver looking for some quiet place and people who are not after him for his fame and fortune. Going to a quiet neighborhood bar for a blind date, Hugh is immediately drawn to his waitress, Brianna Heart, a young single other of a six year old girl. In spite of Brianna’s hesitations, the sparks fly quickly. I loved Hugh and his dedication to Brianna’s child. The relationship between Hugh and Brianna is delightful. Brianna’s constant second guessing herself was a bit annoying. I hate it when women think it is better to break off a relationship than “risk getting hurt”. Other than that I very much enjoyed this story and am looking forward to diving into the Remington series.

As usual, B. J. Harrison did an amazing job narrating this audiobook. His voice is delightful to listen to and each character has a very distinctive voice.

***I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my own, unbiased, review.***

Hi-speed chemistry!

I read Hearts at Play several years ago and loved Hugh Brianna. The chemistry these two stir up is amazing. I have read and loved countless Melissa Foster Love In Bloom series books. The banter, character depth, wittiness, chemistry, humor, heart, love for each other(family and friends) is just so heartfelt. I love it when a character knows what they want and is not afraid to go get it. Hugh is that character in this story. He is handsome, loving, kind, and ready for the next chapter in his life. Bree is quite nervous to make changes/let a man into her life because of her 6-yr old daughter. She wants to protect Layla from heartbreak if her relationship with Hugh does not work out. BJ Harrison is the narrator for this audiobook and does a wonderful job. He has a voice that is easy to listen to and brings the characters to life in my head. Whether you read the print or ebook or listen to the audiobook you will enjoy the story completely. For those looking for a way to pass the time for work commute this is a fantastic way to do it, listening to a Melissa Foster Love In Bloom audiobook. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. ****

Emotional

I liked this one quite a bit. I have slowly been working my way through Melissa Foster’s backlist and have recently been enjoying getting to know each of the Braden siblings. This time around we get Hugh Braden’s story. Each of these books work well on their own but fans of the series will enjoy seeing favorite characters make an appearance.

Brianna is a single mother with a 6-year-old daughter. She’s too busy trying to be the best mom she can while trying to make ends meet to even think about dating. Plus she has a plan to wait another 12 years for her daughter to turn 18 before looking for a relationship. Hugh doesn’t expect to be taken with the waitress working at the bar he visits but he is. He is a racecar driver and most of the women he dates seem to be more interested in his fame and status. Brianna doesn’t even know who he is so it is a different experience and one they both want to explore. I liked Brianna and Hugh and thought that they worked well together. I thought that they had a lot of chemistry with each other. I also really liked how they were both very focused on making sure that Brianna’s daughter would not be hurt by their relationship.

B.J. Harrison did a great job with the narration once again. I listened to this audiobook at 1.4X speed which worked really well for me. I thought that he did a great job with both the male and female voices and was able to bring a lot of emotion into the story. I believe that his narration added to my overall enjoyment of this story.

I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a well-done contemporary romance filled with great characters and a lot of emotion. I look forward to reading more of Melissa Foster’s work soon.

I received a copy of this audiobook from the author/publicist.

Sweet and Steamy Romance!

I loved Hugh, Brianna's heartwarming and steamy romance! Brianna is a single mom who works hard to make a life for her young daughter and herself. She was burned before and is determined to stay single until her daughter is grown. But when a sexy man walks into the bar where she works and tries to catch her attention, she questions her decisions. When he works hard to get her to trust him, and he puts her daughter first, she can't help but give in. Hugh is intrigued by this beautiful woman who loves her family, and doesn't care about his fame or money. He never understood the epic love his father had for his mother, until he met Brianna, and fell fast and hard. Now he must convince her to trust him and that he will always love and cherish both her and her daughter. But will Brianna's quiet life be able to mesh with the fame that comes with Hugh's success? This was such a beautiful, sweet, and passionate story. Hugh, and Brianna are complete opposites yet are so perfect together with their shared love of family, along with their explosive chemistry. I love all their family and friends who are fun, quirky, loving and supportive.
B.J. Harrison continues to narrate this series beautifully. His voice is smooth and calm, yet expressive, setting each scene perfectly, and bringing these characters and story to life, making this a captivating listen.

One of my Favorites!!!

I’ve read all of Melissa Foster’s books and this is one of my favorites. I really liked this story getting to know more about Hugh Braden (Prince Hugh), Brianna Heart, and of course Layla Heart. It was nice to see Hugh outside of his family and see how his life is and how he handles his demanding yet sometimes dangerous career all the while finding himself thinking about the beautiful Brianna. I really liked how the story progressed and I also liked how they talked about Brianna’s concerns and how they ultimately decided to see where things would go. I also really enjoyed our secondary characters in this story as well and the ending was wonderful. I listened to this book as an audio book narrated by B J Harrison. I liked his narration and I thought he did a good job from beginning to end. I could hear a little bit of a drawl from Hugh (reminding me of Hal), and I thought he also did a good job with the narration when Hugh, Brianna and Kat were chatting and, I liked his narration of Bill and of course he gets me every time he comes on as Hal. Great story and narration.

Hugh and Brianna (&Layla!)

Race car drivers, aren't they all playboys? Hugh used to be, but now he is looking for the kind of connection his cousins and brothers have. When he meets Brianna in a restaurant, he things he may have found his match. But is she interested? Brianna is a single mom, just trying to get by. She does not date and her main focus is her adorable daughter Layla. Now being pursued by Hugh is quite an experience. This man does not take no for an answer, and does she not want to take the chance? I love the Bradens! Each one is so different, but their hearts all contain that swooniness I love. Hugh is so attentive and loving, and the way he takes to Layla is heart melting. Brianna is not as easy. Hesitant, and understandably so, there were times I wanted to just push her a little! And stealing the show is Layla. She is the cutest, most gracious child, and I loved her! And it's always fun seeing the family, like Savannah and Jack. It's coming home. Melissa Foster always makes my heart full.

BJ Harrison continues his narration of the series, and he is the voice of the Bradens. I enjoy his voices and his consistency between books is remarkable. I find him a calming listen, and know I will be in a good mood when I am finished with his performance.

Another Winner - Loved this story ❤️!!

As I listen to each story, they just keep getting better and now this one is my new favorite! From the other books, I always had Hugh pegged as a playboy, but here you see him meet Brianna and start falling fall her and wanting more. Brianna's past is holding her back and Hugh has to break through that and watching that happen while they get to know each other and fall in love. It was also so heartwarming to see how Hugh and Brianna's daughter Layla had a "father / daughter" like relationship right from the beginning. This story makes you want to have your own Hugh!! I love seeing the interaction with the Braden family as always, especially Treat and Hal - I just love this family! This is a book you just have to listen to! Narration was also great. I am looking forward to the next one!

Such a beautiful story!

Audiobook: Narrator - B.J. Harrison

Another great narration by Mr. Harrison. He’s become the voice of the Love in Bloom series for me and I can’t imagine listening to any other narrator at this time. Mr. Harrison knows how to bring a depth of emotion into the story that isn’t there in the written words and that’s exactly what I’m looking for in an audiobook.

I loved this story with a single mother who didn’t plan on falling in love until after her daughter was a young adult. Watching her do just that was wonderful and I loved that despite her struggles, she was always mature and open about what she wanted and expected. The fact that Hugh was just as much in agreement with her made me fall in love with him. He was so willing to yield to her needs I just loved him.

This is another beautiful Braden story filled with respect, love, loyalty and family.

This story is bittersweet for me

I was actually surprised in this book. I never expected Hugh (playboy) to settle down especially with a woman with a child. Brianna got pregnant right after college and has been a single mom, working two jobs ever since. When Hugh comes into her life, he turns it upside down giving her and her daughter gifts that she would never purchase on her own. As a matter of fact, she tells Hugh he has to stop buying Layla things because it's too much and she doesn't want her daughter to expect this when he's gone. But he has no intention of going anywhere.

The birthday party was so much fun for little Layla. And let's not forget the theater he rents out to have her play that she wrote produced by family and friends. He thinks of everything. But is he really ready to be a dad and husband? And is Brianna ready to trust him that he won't leave?

I think Hugh is my favorite Braden at the moment. Growing up with a single mom, this story really hit home for me. Unfortunately, there are no Hugh Braden's in real life. So this story is bittersweet for me.

As always, BJ Harrison brings home this story with impeccable taste and I love listening to his portrayal of the Bradens.

A heartwarming story which will make you want more

Hearts At Play is book number 6 in the Braden’s of Weston series by the incredible Melissa Foster. If you love small town romances which are interlinked and all part of one big overall story, then this is going to be a book for you.

The book is about Brianna Heart, a single mother to a gorgeously cute little girl Layla. Brianna has vowed to not date and focus on herself until her daughter turns 18, determined to keep everything in her life as uncomplicated as possible. But Hugh Braden is all about living hard and fast, and that’s how he handles falling in love.

The narration like all Foster’s audiobooks adds to the story, with the right amount of dramatisation to enable you to become encapsulated in the story.
This is a perfect listen for a long boring commute, or whilst doing mundane housework, as it is guaranteed to add a bit of fun and spice to your library.

This story is to die for, Hugh ensures that not only does he win Brianna’s heart, but he is out to also captivate Layla. But with a reputation of dating only supermodels and having a career as a racing car driver, will Brianna be able to keep up, or will Hugh choose to slow it down?

This is one of my favourite Foster books, and there’s something about Hugh Braden which makes him unforgettable. You will be left with the biggest book hangover!

Great book

What an amazing story in this fabulous series. Full of drama and intrigue. Wonderful characters. The narration was excellent totally enhanced the story.

No frogs to kiss

Would you consider the audio edition of Hearts at Play to be better than the print version?

They are the same although you can get a bit more emotional with the audi version

What did you like best about this story?

It was like an adult version of Cinderella, Brianna a single mother of a 6 year old meets Hugh who likes to thrill seek. I liked the interaction of Hugh with Brianna's daughter Layla. It takes a while for Brianna to step down from her 12 year plan of no dating, but cant help falling for Hugh.

Have you listened to any of B.J. Harrison’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Its just as good as all the others I have listened to

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

You don't have to kiss that many frogs to find your Prince

Any additional comments?

Another good listen from Melissa and BJ Harrison

Playboy meets his match

Hugh Braden, playbook racing car driver meets Brianna Heart, single mother, by chance. They end up with sparks flying between them and fall for one another but Brianna is cautious because of her 6year old daughter Layla. Beautiful story and wonderfully narrated. I love that B.J. manages to keep the same voices for each character as the Love in Bloom series continues. Wonderful book by Melissa and amazingly brought to life by B.J. Harrison.