AUTHOR: Susan Anne Mason
DATE: August 2014
PUBLISHER: Pelican Book Group
STARS: *****
Lily Draper comes to Rainbow Falls in search of her biological sister, the only blood relative she has left. Emotionally scarred by her preacher father, Lily avoids religion at all cost. Her new landlord, an aspiring minister, soon has her questioning her views. Can she learn to trust Nick's heart or will her sordid past destroy their love?
Nick Logan hopes to take over for the retiring minister who has groomed Nick for the job. But Reverend Ted seems to feel the position requires Nick to marry an upstanding woman, namely Ted's niece. When Nick finds himself falling in love with Lily Draper, the woman least likely to become a minister's wife, his problems escalate. And when Reverend Ted gives him an ultimatum, Nick faces an impossible choice. Can he accept God's will and still find a place for Lily in his life?
“The click of the door echoed as loud as a gunshot through the silent house.” What a fantastic opening line! Betrayed Hearts grabbed my attention with that sentence and kept me spellbound until the very end. Lily is a wonderfully sympathetic character, damaged by her abusive father and her own poor decisions, while Nick is a true hero—with some past damage of his own. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, including the supporting cast. Maxi stole my heart from her first appearance, and I hope to read more of her story in subsequent books in the Rainbow Falls series.
Betrayed Hearts is the first book by Susan Anne Mason that I’ve read, but it won’t be the last. The publisher gave me an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion, which is that Betrayed Hearts earns five stars. Highly recommended.