A Thankful Heart

What can be better than chocolate, animals and a hunky guy. This is what you will find in this delightful tale written by Melissa McClone. I fell in love with this story, ok so I do love chocolate, have always had a soft heart for rescue animals (love my little guy, Trooper) and how can you not fall in love with a hunky man, Bryce. Bryce is on a mission, to return to Marietta to get to know his dad better and try to convince him to move to Seattle. He soon meets Dakota, who works at Sage's Chocolate shop and helps at the animal rescue. In her opinion, animals want break your heart like men. Neither are looking for a relationship, but when you throw in Bryce's father "the matchmaker" it hard to resist. This is great addition to Love at the Chocolate Shop. I recommend this book along with the rest of the series.

Dakota Parker spends her days working at the Chocolate Shop or volunteering at the local animal rescue. Bryce Grayson is an Architect from Seattle who is in town to take care of his father for a month. Bryce is convinced his father would be better off in Seattle than alone in Montana. When Bryce's father starts playing matchmaker with him and Dakota feelings start to develop. I really enjoyed A Thankful Heart. Dakota and Bryce compliment one another really well.

"A Thankful Heart" by Melissa McClone is book number two in the "Chocolate Shop" series. This is Dakota Parker and architect Bryce Grayson's story. This is a clean, sweet and heartwarming romance. The author did a great job of incorporating a sweet romance with bringing awareness to struggles that people experience with dyslexia, and the needs of animal shelters and finding homes for these animals I enjoyed watching Bryce and Dakota's romance blossom. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

I loved this story so much! The animals added so much to the story. Bryce and Dakota were great characters. He was kind of stubborn when it came to his dad (ok, a lot stubborn) but deep down he really was just trying to be a good son. Dakota really worked too hard, between her job and volunteering with the animal rescue. But she was such a caring person and I just loved her personality. The more I read about Marietta, the more I wish it was a real place that I could go visit. Especially to be able to visit Copper Mountain Chocolates.

> > Judging a Book by it's Cover < < Watercolor effect illustration is super cute. Colors are vibrant and very reflective of the fall season. Blurb sounds enjoyable and sweet. > > Looking Deeper < < Third-person POV. Bryce arrived in small-town Marietta, Montana to help his dad recover from a fall that resulted in him breaking both legs. Meanwhile, he planned on convincing his dad to move to Seattle to live closer to him. Walt had no intentions of ever moving from Marietta, so he set into motion a plan to make his son want to leave the city-slicker life for something more charming, particularly a certain generous-hearted girl named Dakota. After literally being left at the alter on her wedding day, Dakota swore all she needed was chocolates and the animals she fosters. Working at Copper Mountain Chocolates and volunteering at the shelter occupy most of her time, but she slowly learned that that may not be enough. Bryce had some truly swoon-worthy moments, but boy... he suffered foot-in-mouth syndrome in a bad way when emotions and tempers were elevated. Dakota was a total sweetheart, willing to put everyone and everything above her own wants and needs continuously. Their relationship developed slowly. There were instant sparks of interest, yes... but they took their time getting to know each other & fearing they'd forever be placed in the other's "friend zone". The secondary characters were a wonderful addition to the cast, varying in personalities, but most were so very likeable. The interaction between cast was believable and the dialogue seemed natural. The plot was not very dynamic, but it was full of content and flowed smoothly. There was little conflict other that what was self-imposed. Resolution was finally found and amends were made leaving no real loose ends for the main couple. Other areas were left open, but I imagine those will be touched on by the other authors in this collaboration (ie: Portia's situation, the mysterious benefactor, and the implied HEA for Bryce and Dakota - not to mention the continued recovery for Walt). There was a little bit of predictability, but it was done in a way that made you happy to be right. This story made me smile, laugh, and even cry. As the owner of a small mammal rescue, I can sympathize with the attachment Dakota felt to her fosters. Overall, this was a clean and charming small-town romance with endearing characters and enjoyable plot. I hope to have the opportunity to read more from this lovely little town. . Rating: [PG-13] ~ Score: 4.3 ~ Stars: 4 (4.5, if I could!) ========================== ⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the Author/Publisher with the hope that I will leave my Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that... My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". ***** ⭐ ⭐

A Thankful Heart by Melissa McClone is the second book in the Love at the Chocolate Shop series. I love this series and the manner in which the authors worked together to make this a seamless transition from book to book. Mending a broken heart can be difficult as Dakota Parker has learned over the past year. Between her job at the chocolate shop and finding forever homes for rescue animals, Dakota has little time to dwell on finding a man. This way she can indulge her love of chocolate and receive the unconditional love she craves from her foster dogs. Bryce Grayson came to Marietta to help his dad recover from falling off a ladder and breaking his two legs. This Seattle architect doesn’t understand the appeal of a small town and is counting the days until he return home with his father in tow. That’s the plan until Bryce meets Dakota. The more time the two spend together the more he wonders if he should abandon his plan and move to Marietta. Yet he doubts he could be happy living in a small town. This was a sweet, fun and entertaining story with very likeable and authentic characters that you want to cheer on, hoping for that happy ending. The characters were well written with complex characteristics. The story line was riveting and kept my attention to the very end. I enjoyed reading this book and had trouble putting this book down, reading it in one day. I appreciate reading books by Ms. McClone as she is a wonderful story teller. I highly recommend this book to other readers. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.