Sweet Little Hearts

De: Shanora Williams

Narrado por: Aure Nash, Andre Santana

From New York Times bestselling author Shanora Williams comes a deeply heartfelt romance about the tragedies that put our lives on hold—and the love that makes us want to start again.

Javier Valdez hasn’t had much luck with nannies, and he can’t imagine this one will be any different. Octavia Klein is all sass to his stoicism, free spirit to his hard work. But he’s a widower, and with a career in the NBA, he can’t keep doing this alone.

Despite Javier’s reservations, Octavia turns out to be the best thing for his four-year-old daughter…and for him. But he’s reluctant to admit it. Javier swore off love after his wife died, and Octavia has her own reasons for avoiding relationships.

As their bond deepens far past professionalism or even friendship, it’s hard to deny the crackling tension of something more. They’re both toeing lines they said they wouldn’t cross—and when their pasts come rushing back, there’s no telling which way they’ll fall.

With old wounds reopened, can Javier and Octavia overcome the pain once again? Or will their future together become just another scar?

©2025 by Shanora Williams. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Shanora does it again!!

A wonderful book with a heartfelt and engaging storyline. This story beautifully explores love, trust, and the unexpected connections that change everything. When a professional athlete finds himself juggling fatherhood and a demanding career, hiring a nanny feels like his last option. Enter a free spirited, warm hearted woman who turns his carefully controlled world upside down. Their personalities clash at first his rigid structure versus her laid back charm, but that contrast quickly becomes one of the story's greatest strengths. The adorable child adds an extra layer of sweetness, grounding the romance with genuine emotion. The banter is witty, the chemistry is undeniable, and the emotional moments are perfectly timed without feeling overwhelming. Each character is thoughtfully developed, with meaningful backstories that deepen the connection to the plot. Overall, this is a well layered, feel good read filled with charm, growth, and a love story that lingers long after the final page. Thank you to Shanora for the ARC!!

Read This Before You Listen

Anyone who has read Shanora Williams will laugh when they read this review.

Shania has a great ability to weave complex characters, intricate storylines, and amazing spice in her books. I’ve read most of them so I can only blame myself for my discomfort while on a 4 hour flight yesterday. I was so excited about this new book that I knew exactly what I’d be listening to. It was all going so well until chapter 18.

You’ll have to read this book to find out what gave me issues in Chapter 18. Enjoy!!

The plot twist

First time reading this author and I’m excited to dive deeper into her catalogue. Beautiful story and the plot twist had me ready to fight!

I love them so much!

If youre looking for a book that is tender, deeply romantic, humorous and filled with tension then sweet Little hearts....

You may think you know how this story will play out because of the tropes (Single Dad / Nanny / Sports / Grummy / Sunshine) but this is a book by Shanora Williams so you know you're in for so much more! This is a beautifully written romance where you're not just observing two people fall in love, but you're falling in love with them in the process. Yes, I am in love with Javier and Octavia!

Their love and how they act on it is real and mature. They are layered, imperfect adults who talk about their feelings and treat eachother with respect. One of the things I found incredibly refreshing is how they kept his daughters needs as their shared priority throughout their romance. He was a committed father before she started working for him, she did not have to 'fix him' in that regard.

The narration for the audiobook was perfect! This was my first time hearing Andre Santana and his voice is incredibly dreamy and full of range. He captures all of Javier's moods and personality. Stoic and serious, concerned and caring, protective and a man obsessed. Aura Nash is one of my favorite narrators! Her narration of Octavia doesn't feel like you're listening to someone read words off a page, it feels like you're inside Octavia's head, hearing her inner monologue.

This book is about healing. Healing from grief, loss, and trauma from past relationships. Learning to trust again and let someone be there for you (both the MMC and FMC). We also get cameos from Deke and Davina (Beautiful Broken Love) and I can't wait to see who book 3 is about. I may have a wishlist tho...

Sweet 💜

3.5/3.75 ⭐️

I have enjoyed everything I’ve read/listened to from Miss Williams. While I did enjoy SWEET LITTLE HEARTS, I wanted to feel a little more. If there was a little more push and pull, a little more angst it would’ve pulled the emotions out of me that I expected. Both Octavia & Javier are healing from past trauma’s in their relationships. At the end of the day, this was a really sweet second chance at love story.