{"id":8194,"date":"2018-04-15T00:00:38","date_gmt":"2018-04-14T22:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelesbianreview.com\/?p=8194"},"modified":"2023-06-13T17:50:20","modified_gmt":"2023-06-13T15:50:20","slug":"hearts-like-hers-melissa-brayden","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thelesbianreview.com\/hearts-like-hers-melissa-brayden\/","title":{"rendered":"Hearts Like Hers by Melissa Brayden: Audiobook Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Hearts<\/a>Hearts Like Hers by Melissa Brayden<\/b><\/span> is the second book in her Seven Shores romance series. Because it follows a different couple falling in love, it can be read as a standalone (although I think everyone should read the first book, Eyes Like Those<\/span><\/a>, anyway!).<\/span><\/p>\n

Autumn Primm has let life pass her by for far too long. She\u2019s damn proud of her successful coffee shop, The Cat\u2019s Pajamas, but at 34 she\u2019s still single and doesn\u2019t have a family. Attending her ex\u2019s wedding is just the wakeup call Autumn needs to finally reach out and grab the life she wants. <\/span><\/p>\n

Kate Carpenter\u2019s heart hurts every time someone calls her a hero, until one day it\u2019s too much and she knows she needs to get out of town. An extended road trip to Venice Beach sounds like just the ticket, where no one will know her as a firefighter from a sleepy town in Oregon. After meeting a gorgeous redhead at the beach, Kate\u2019s more than a little happy to find her behind the counter at the excellent coffee shop next to the Seven Shores apartment complex where she\u2019s staying for her vacation. <\/span><\/p>\n

Autumn and Kate can instantly feel that there\u2019s something between them, but with Kate only in town temporarily and Autumn focused on her own future, they know they can\u2019t have more. They can just be friends though, right?<\/span><\/p>\n

The Characters<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Kate and Autumn are incredibly likeable. They have instant chemistry, which is fun to read, and watching each woman get all aflutter around the other is so satisfying. They\u2019re both warm, caring, and sensible, and I loved seeing how they supported each other with a strong friendship while their romantic interest was growing. I also appreciated that although each woman had her own arc and went through some serious personal growth, it was for themselves rather than to make them fit together in a relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you liked Isabel, Taylor, Gia, and Hadley in Eyes Like Those, then you\u2019ll be happy to know they all show up in this book! I especially appreciated getting to know Gia and Hadley better as they support Autumn through some pretty serious personal issues (and I\u2019m eagerly awaiting their books!). <\/span><\/p>\n

The Writing Style<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Hearts Like Hers has a breezy style that makes it a perfect beach read. The romance is paced well, the sex writing is super hot, and even the conflict made perfect sense and honoured Autumn and Kate\u2019s journeys.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Narration<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Just like with the other books in this series, Melissa Sternenberg did a great job narrating this Hearts Like Hers. She\u2019s such a good match for the overall tone of the Seven Shores books, and while I was already familiar with how she performs Autumn and her friends, I enjoyed hearing how she brought Kate to life. If you\u2019re at all inclined to listen to books, I totally recommend getting the audio for this one.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Pros<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Unsurprisingly, everything worked for me with this book. And, at the risk of parroting my review for Eyes Like Those, the standout element for me is the way Brayden writes female friendship. It\u2019s so refreshing to see books celebrating it, and every scene with the friends made my heart happy.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Cons<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

*looks at watch* <\/span><\/p>\n

*sighs*<\/span><\/p>\n

*checks the calendar*<\/span><\/p>\n

I have to wait until JUNE for the next book! <\/span><\/p>\n

\"taras<\/a>The Conclusion<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Eyes Like Those is still my favourite of Melissa Brayden\u2019s books, but Hearts Like Hers is a wonderful romance and a worthy installment in the Seven Shores series. Just make sure to start it when you don\u2019t have anything else going on, because you won\u2019t want to put it down!<\/span><\/p>\n

Excerpt from <\/b><\/span>Hearts Like Hers by Melissa Brayden<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t take this the wrong way, but you\u2019re even prettier up close.\u201d Kate sat back in her chair.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow could I take that the wrong way?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Kate glanced at the ceiling and back. \u201cI don\u2019t know. Might be crossing a line. We don\u2019t really know each other yet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The yet was not lost on Autumn. The yet came with so many fun possibilities.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not crossing a line,\u201d Autumn said, feeling daring for the first time in a while. \u201cAnd thank you for what you said, but I\u2019m not sure I can hold a candle to a mysterious out-of-town firefighter.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Kate offered a small smile, the kind that mattered. Most of Kate\u2019s smiles did\u2014that much Autumn could already tell. She didn\u2019t throw away her smiles. While only occasional, they seemed sincere. \u201cBut here\u2019s the thing I don\u2019t get.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what is that?\u201d Autumn asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy you agreed to have coffee with me. Unless\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Autumn said, enjoying this.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUnless we have a thing happening. We do, don\u2019t we?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Autumn held her thumb and forefinger together. \u201cLittle bit. I think.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Get This Book On Amazon<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

(this link works for Amazon UK, US and Canada)<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

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Series<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Seven Shores\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Eyes Like Those<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Hearts Like Hers<\/span><\/p>\n

Bits and Bobs<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n