THIS HEART OF MINE – Brenda Novak
A Whiskey Creek Novel , Book 9
Harlequin MIRA
ISBN: 978-1-4603-8053-6
April 2015
Contemporary Romance

Whiskey Creek, California

Phoenix Fuller just came home after seventeen years in prison for a crime she did not commit. She has two reasons for returning to a place where nearly everyone believes she deliberately ran over and killed Lori Mansfield. One is because her mother, a hugely obese recluse and extreme hoarder, still lives in Whisky Creek; the other is because Jacob, her sixteen-year-old son, lives there with his father.

Phoenix and Riley Stinson were high school sweethearts, but no one thought she was good enough for him, not his parents and not his friends. Riley crumbled under pressure and broke up with Phoenix; neither knew she was pregnant. He then began dating Lori Mansfield, the girl Phoenix was later convicted of killing. Now Phoenix is back, and Riley's not too happy to have her in his son's life, but Jacob's mind is open.

Phoenix didn't let prison make her bitter; she used her time to grow and learn. She's an amazing woman, strong, loving, and ready to forgive those who wronged her. Too bad the town is not so generous. What about Riley? Now that he is a man, can he give her a chance? He once knew the real Phoenix.

THIS HEART OF MINE cannot fail to move readers with its complex, highly emotional tale of a mother's love and second chances. It's set in the Whiskey Creek story world and includes many of the characters from earlier books…a treat for fans of the series and new readers alike. I've read them all and readily recommend this series and Brenda Novak as an author not to be missed.

Jane Bowers