Lovers at Heart

Love in Bloom: The Bradens, Book 1

By: Melissa Foster

Narrated by: B. J. Harrison

Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Handsome, wealthy resort owner Treat Braden is used to getting what he wants. When Max Armstrong walked into his life six months earlier, he saw right through the efficient and capable facade she wore like a shield, to the sweet, sensual woman who lay beneath. She sparked an unfamiliar desire in him for more than a one-night stand, leaving his heart reeling and his blood boiling. But one mistake caused her to turn away, and now, after six months of longing for the one woman he cannot have, he's going home to try to forget her all together.

Max Armstrong has a successful career, a comfortable lifestyle, and she's never needed a man to help her find her way - until Treat Braden caught her attention at a wedding in Nassau, causing a surge of emotions too reminiscent of the painful past she'd spent years trying to forget. Max will do anything to avoid reliving that pain - including forgoing her toe-curling, heart-pounding desire for Treat. When a chance encounter turns into a night of intense passion, Treat realizes that the mistake he made six months earlier may cause him to lose Max completely. He will do everything within his power to win her heart forever - and Max is forced to face her hurtful past head on for the man she cannot help but love.

©2014 Melissa Foster (P)2014 Melissa Foster

Max and Treat!

What a couple. They both come into their relationship with so much life baggage that it takes them most of the book to both be on the same page at the same time. But it was worth the wait!! Another wonderful story from Melissa Foster and (if you read the books in order) our first full on adventure into the world of the amazing and beautiful Braden clan!! This audio book was heaven sent as I listened during our recent trip to Cape Cod. I highly recommend you take a listen. Five stars all the way!!

The Braden Saga Begins

This was my first Melissa Foster book that kept me coming back for more. I have both read and listened to it and each time I get a little more out of their story and it holds a special place in my heart.

Treat, the oldest of six children, lost his mom at the tender age of eleven and tried to step up and help each of them deal with their devastating loss. We get to see the Braden family dynamics and I think that is my favorite part of the book. Hal Braden is the patriarch of the family and is a strong, alpha male who sets a fine example for his children. Never one to shy away from showing his love for them and the woman who still owns his heart, he’s always there. I love Hal. He gave each of his children the opportunity to pursue their own dreams and Treat went on to become a wealthy resort owner, traveling the world looking for the next new venture.

Max Armstrong has built a very comfortable life for herself as a successful event planner. This is how Max and Treat come to know each other, as she plans the destination wedding for her boss and friends Chaz Crew and Kaylie Snow and Kaylie’s sister Danica and Blake Carter, Treat’s cousin. We meet them in Sisters in White, Book 3 of The Snow Sisters (Love in Bloom). Max is efficient and detail oriented, which makes her a real asset in her job, keeping everything organized and running smoothly. However, her personal life is almost non-existent due to a painful past relationship that she hasn’t really come to terms with. In truth, she’s run from her past and as we all know, it eventually catches up with you.

Treat Braden and Max Armstrong are two flawed people each dealing with issues from their past who meet in person at the destination wedding after having worked together for months over the phone planning it and a relationship of sorts forms.

Treat is older than Max and a confirmed bachelor until he meets her. He doesn’t understand the instant attraction that is more than physical and the shifting of his heart, at first confuses and almost irritates him. He’s also quick to pass judgement and that comes back to haunt him.

Max is a strong willed woman who can’t escape her own past and it threatens everything she wants.

I won’t go into detail beyond what brought them together or sent them in opposite directions - all the other reviews do that. I will say fate keeps bringing them together and neither can forget the other, but if they want a chance at a real relationship, at love - they both have painful issues to deal with first. We travel with them from Nassau to Weston, CO to Wellfleet, MA. I especially loved the time in Wellfleet, it gives more insight into what makes Treat the man he is and shows another side to him.

Take the time to read and listen to this first book in the Braden saga and you’ll get hooked. B.J. Harrison does a great job of narrating with his soothing voice that easily transitions from one character to the next without getting lost and that always manages to transport me into the story.

Slow down and feel.

Where does Lovers at Heart rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is the first book I've listened to as an audio book. It actually was pretty interesting.

What other book might you compare Lovers at Heart to and why?

Melissa's books are all expertly written and you can definitely tell her writing apart from other authors.

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

No I have not.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I LOVE Treat and Max as a couple. I feel just about ever reaction and feeling that each character does throughout the book.

Any additional comments?

The only thing I would suggest is using a male AND female to narrate...giving a voice to both point of views.

A favorite author

While reading The Snow Sisters series, I got a little hint of something between Max and Treat. It really got me excited to read their story. Max seemed like such a bad**s character. I couldn’t wait to see what hoops she might make handsome Treat jump through.

“Isn’t that the greatest feeling? That instant when you know someone recognizes that you’re something more than what anyone else sees?”

I was a little disappointed when it ended up that Max was hiding so much insecurity under her tough armor. But I’m glad that Treat was able to see through the tough and past the self-doubt and right into the amazingness that was the real Max.
I loved listening to this story on audiobook! The narrator really helps me feel the emotions of the characters!
-4 Stars!-

Sweet Story!

This is the first book in The Bradens Series. This Series is also part of the Love in Bloom Series (book 4). For a better enjoyment, I suggest you to read the three books in the Snow Sisters Series before. Treat and Max's story has a slow development, filled with misunderstandings, insecurities and doubts. After a few bumps in the road, they got their happy ending. I can't wait for the next book in the Series, Destined for Love, Jade and Rex's story. B.J. Harrison has done an amazing job with all the characters and voices. I enjoyed my listening. I received this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

LOVED IT

Great narration, this is my first time listening to this authors book and will listen more!

Fun read exploring complexity of new relationships

Lovers at Heart is a wonderful roller coaster ride to follow as a reader. If you read Melissa's "Snow Sisters" series, we met Treat and Max under the context of their work and the roles they play with their friends/family. If this is your first introduction to Melissa Foster's books (or this series), don't fear--the story is a stand alone and explores the characters, the "fire" between them, and the real world relationship struggles that new couples can go through--but will their love be enough? I love this story and I actually recently re-read it. There are some side characters in the book that show up in other books by Melissa! Edited to add: I just listened to the audiobook version of this book. My first audiobook ever! I am hooked. I loved being able to just get lost in the story. The narrators voice was very soothing. It took some getting used to hearing the characters voices all done by the same person as I have not listened to a book before. I will be downloading some other favorites and some new ones to try!

Another great book....

Another fantastic reading by BJ Harrison and of course Melissa Fosters book Lovers at Heart was great, but I will say I want to smack these women...while the story is great these women need some head smacking. But listening to Bj read this book I can so get past Max's insecurities, thankfully she gets it together. So as always this audiobook was awesome and I loved listening to it. I love that this family is so close but sometimes they are a little to nosey and pushy and that can be annoying but thankfully it's not the entire book. Also I'm thankful for how Melissa writes about all of them and keeps you up to date on everyone else from previous stories. Thank god Mr Braden finally spoke up and put those boys in place. Took long enough and the up and down kept you listening to see what would happen next. Kinda keeps you on pins and needles. Thank you Melissa for another good book and thanks for keeping BJ Harrison as your reader. He is fantastic at it. I look forward to more readings by him!!!

#LoveTreatandMax

Would you listen to Lovers at Heart again? Why?

This is by far my favorite book in the Love in Bloom series. I have read the book many times but this was my first time listening to it with audiobooks. I loved it just as much. The narrator has a great voice and I love it when he does girly voices. His voice had me engrossed in the story and I did not want it to end. Listening to it while driving and working out made drive time and my workouts fly by.

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

No

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

Yes!!

Treat and Max caught my eye . . .

I could feel the chemistry of Treat and Max as they caught my eye in the last book of the sisters from the first three books of the Love in Bloom series, Snow sisters. Treat and Max were a puzzle that needed to be put together. They both intrigued you from the start of there meeting for the first time in Nassau for the Snow sisters wedding. There encounters were one sided for us and the looks were just leading one to want more. Now, we get that chance to see just a bit more of what we were wanting to see from the first.

B. J. Harrison was not a bad narrator but I felt that this one would have done better with multiple narrators. The skills of the narrator still allowed for an enjoyable experience of the story.