Paper Hearts by Courtney Walsh
Synopsis:
Abigail Pressman would never have guessed that love notes penned on paper hearts by an anonymous couple could restore her belief in love. As a business owner in a quaint town at the base of the Rockies, she’s poured everything into dreams of expansion . . . and resisting the matchmaking efforts of the Valentine Volunteers, who gather in her store to continue Loves Park’s tradition of stamping mail with the city’s romantic postmark.
When Abigail is unwillingly drafted into the Volunteers, she encounters the paper hearts, a distraction that couldn’t come at a worse time. A hard-to-read doctor has become Abigail’s new landlord, and he’s threatening to end her lease to expand his practice.
As she fights a growing attraction to this handsome man crushing her dreams, Abigail is inspired to string the hearts in her store, sparking a citywide infatuation with the artsy trend. But when a new batch of hearts reaches the Volunteers, it appears something tragic has happened to the couple. Will uncovering their story confirm Abigail’s doubts about love, or could it rescue her dreams . . . and her heart?
My Thoughts:
When I saw Paper Hearts was available for review, I grabbed it instantly! I fell in love with Walsh’s Sweethaven series and have been waiting for something new from her. Paper Hearts is a love story, but it’s so much more. It’s about feelings of unworthiness, self-blame, and failure. It’s about forgiveness, perfect love, and romance. Walsh proves her talent for making characters real and dynamic. Not only did I see parts of myself in Abigail Pressman, but also in each of the supporting characters. While parts of the story were rather predictable, Walsh manages to keep an underlying sense of suspense throughout the book. I appreciate the realness and reverent manner in which the author approaches grief and death. I expected this book to be mostly lighthearted, but I was pleasantly surprised by the heavier storyline. I loved reading about the ladies in the Valentine Volunteers and hope to see more of them in the future. Loves Park is a place I’d love to visit again! Bring it on, Courtney Walsh!