Once Upon a Winter's Heart

Title: ONCE UPON A WINTER’S HEART

Author: Melody Carlson

Publisher: Hachette Books Group

January 2014

ISBN: 978-1-4555-2811-0

Genre: Romance/novella

Emma Burcelli has suffered over a decade of dating disasters. But she concludes that love is officially dead when her grandfather Poppi suddenly passes, leaving her grandmother Nona devastated. To help out, Emma works in the family bookstore, which Nona insists must be decked out in sweetheart décor as Poppi would have done for Valentine's Day. Although she feels like a V-Day Scrooge, Emma quickly learns to enjoy the task with the help of a handsome family friend, Lane Forester, who shows her that hanging hearts is much more fun when done to the tune of Dean Martin. As Emma and Lane share time and memories of Poppi, she reconsiders the notion that romance is alive.

Just as Emma's heart begins to lift, however, she learns her sister has already staked a claim on Lane. Emma's mother and sister insist Lane only sees her as a future sister-in-law, but she can't help wondering if it could be something more.

ONCE UPON A WINTER’S HEART is a Valentine’s Day romance. I initially thought it was a new Christmas book by her so I was excited to get it, but it was just as good as a Valentine’s story – and a nice twist.

The story isn’t written in deep point of view, and there is some telling, both of which jumped out at me. It also was fairly predictable, especially where Emma’s sister was concerned. I liked Emma’s openness, her friendliness, and Lane was a very nice man, and realistically flawed.

If you want a Valentine’s Day novella to read, then ONCE UPON A WINTER’S HEART will be sure to warm you up. It is a delightful read. Warning for the more conservative readers, the characters do drink wine. ONCE UPON A WINTER’S HEART is a story I recommend for a sweet holiday read. $11.00. 160 pages.