Laura has to do something she really doesn't want to do to go along with her father's plan to make Jake think he compromised her when he woke up to see her in his bed. The father burst into the room just at the right moment and Jake could not remember a thing. Jake doesn't know how he got into this mess and does trust Mr Gibbs as far as he can throw the man.He thinks they are both out for his money but Laura starts to prove him wrong and realizes what is going on. Can he learn to trust Laura and love her for herself or believe everyone is still out for his money.I enjoyed the book. I wanted to see if Jake would set Mr Gibbs straight and help Laura. Laura and Jake get along pretty well and he helps her along the way to believe in herself and make things better for her. A cute read of true love and what extent people will go to for it to happen. Laura agrees to her controlling swindling father's plan to trick Jake in to marriage by letting him think he'd compromised her. Laura who's been in love with Jake since her teenage years sees this as better option than having her dad marry her to a old miner thrice her age.But getting Jake to see that she isn't like her father isn't easy, if at all possible. But she's determined she'll show him that she's kind, caring and nothing at all like her father.Jake's sure he's been plotted to marry Laura, and he's sure as hell he won't fall for her good girl act, she's out for his money and see won't see one red dime of it - but when the gold digger resumes her work in town Jake's having to face the fact that there actually might be more to Laura than he first thought.I haven't yet read a novella that got me to tear up, but Heart of Mine did - twice! The story is a beautiful, well plotted historical western romance with romance, emotional entanglements and one decrepit evil father trying to fulfill his plot with no regard for his daughter.The character both were very realistic and 3 dimensional, Laura was so caring and good that against her father she really shined as the good girl, her love for Jake and how she but him first was truly emotional and really got me shedding tears. Jake was tough, very cool and collected until he begin to have feeling for his wife, who he wanted to despise. And of course tall, blond and built in a white cowboy hat wasn't a fault either. ;)The romance was beautiful, it moved slowly but in very good speed for a novella. It was near sweet in the beginning but moved to full blow romance in the middle as it was a perfect fit for the story. I was nervous of them finally going to bed together because the plot was from the beginning that Jake took her virginity and thus had to marry her, but as it really didn't happen what Jake would do when he figured that out she was a virgin the "second time around" was so nerve-wracking!A great story! Michelle Beattie did good in writing an engaging novella with depth, threat, emotion and romance!
What do You think about Heart Of Mine (2012)?
I really enjoyed this read. It was short but a very sweet story.
—andrettaa
A simplistic short story. Nothing special. Characters are bland.
—Joy
