She traded romance for recipes. He’s the ingredient she never saw coming.

After a public betrayal by her fiancé—and her sister—chef Suzie Hart returned to Harbor Falls, North Carolina, determined to rebuild her life, one muffin at a time. Now she’s running the Sweet Hart Inn, teaching cooking classes, and writing her dream cookbook. Love? Not on the menu.

But when Brad Matthews, her former head chef and secret Asheville fling, shows up on her doorstep—and rents a room under a fake name—Suzie’s carefully measured plans start to crumble.

Brad isn’t just back to rekindle a flame. He’s bought the lodge across the lake, and he’s cooking up something big: a renovation project that could revitalize the town… Or bulldoze everything Suzie holds dear.

As gossip spreads, muffins burn, and sparks fly, Suzie must decide if risking her heart is worth the chance at a sweeter future.

Titles in the Sweet Hart Inn at Harbor Falls series include:  All of My Heart ~ Take My Heart ~ Match My Heart ~ Tame My Heart ~ The Dating Game ~ Mismatched Hearts ~ The Husband List ~ Chase My Heart ~ No Sweeter Match ~ One More Kiss ~

This is a no-spice (light spice) romance, perhaps with closed-door or fade-to-black scenes. Tension and kisses might be involved.

Title:  All of My Heart
Series:  Sweet Hart Inn at Harbor Falls #1
Author:  Maddie James
Published:  September 22, 2025
My Rating:  4.5 stars

Sometimes life tosses a tree full of lemons at us, and the only way to survive is to make a tub full of lemonade… or so it seems to Suzie.  The humiliation, not to mention the doubly painful betrayal of her former fiancé and her sister, has left her reeling.  The breakup of a passionate, emotional relationship she had fallen into culminated in her decision to move back home and open her own B&B, focusing on her only consistent, dependable love of food, cooking, and creating meals that excite the eyes and the palate.  Unfortunately, her past love is about to ride up on a motorcycle with plans of his own… to build his own dream, and win back the love of his life.  Yet, it might have helped his cause if he’d asked her what she wanted, not just plowed ahead thinking he knew best.  Spoiler alert: He didn’t, and it’s going to take more than just showing up to prove his love.

And so begins the Sweet Hart Inn at Harbor Falls series, as Suzie and Brad reunite and try to find their second chance to get it right, with a happy ending for both.  I adored Suzie; she’s been through so much yet is determined to rebuild her life on her terms.  Brad, at times, puzzled me.  The moments I wanted to hug the guy for going after what made him happy often warred with the need to smack him upside the head for his alpha male tendencies.  I never doubted his love for Suzie, but sometimes he showed that in the most awkward ways possible.  You don’t try to steamroll someone’s dreams, you ask them to join with yours… or that’s what should happen.  Watching them work through their differences, tear down defensive walls, and find their happiness once again was an emotional journey.

All of My Heart is a well-written, emotional romance full of laughter and tears, joys and confusions, and at the heart of it, two people who do belong together, they just need to work out how that can happen as they blend dreams and reality.  It’s a great start to a series that I’ll definitely be following.  I love a small-town romance full of quirky residents, drama (both in-your-face and quiet background noise), and finding one’s place in this world, hopefully with the right partner.   If that sounds like your kind of romantic reading experience, then you’d love All of My Heart.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author’s team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

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