One True Heart
Harmony #8
By Jodi Thomas
ISBN# 9780425268414
Author’s Website: www.jodithomas.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas takes us back to Harmony, Texas—a small town where love blooms and secrets of the past threaten to alter the future…
Millanie McAllen is always logical. But after returning to her childhood home, she learns that some things are beyond explanation—like her undeniable passion for Drew Cunningham…
After finding success as a singer on the road, Beau Yates returns to Harmony to make peace with his dying father—only to find the woman he’s been dreaming of for years. But the secrets they discover might be too much for him to bear…
When Johnny Wheeler is charged with his wife’s murder, he turns to the only person who believes he’s innocent. Fortune teller Kare Cunningham’s life has always danced around reality—but Johnny is able to ground her like no other…
As their paths cross in new, captivating directions, the townspeople of Harmony need to learn to love and let go in order to live together in their little slice of heaven. (From Goodreads)
Review:
One True Heart is my second visit to Harmony, the first one being A Place Called Harmony, introducing the founding families in post-Civil War America. It is a delight to now meet some of the heirs of these families and their appreciation for the little town that I enjoyed so much – and I absolutely have to read the books in between now!
This visit to Harmony leads us to Millanie McAllen, Captain McAllen, who returns to town even though she isn’t quite sure why. She hadn’t lived there for years. She has permanently left behind the army after an injury that may or may not render her disabled. At the airport, she met Drew Cunningham, an enigma to most of Harmony. Neither is willing to share with the other about themselves, yet they have an unexplainable attraction to each other.
Millanie’s induction officer visited her shortly after her arrival; the army was holding up her discharge papers while putting her on a temporary mission in Texas, watching for a criminal that has eluded the Feds. As someone trained to search for people who don’t fit where they are, she was perfect for one last mission, this time stateside. She can, at least, do this mission while living at Martha Q’s bed and breakfast – maybe even get a lead from Martha, who knows everyone’s business but cares for others with a heart of gold.
Prim, proper bank Vice President, Ashley “Lark” Powers, and daughter of the bank owner is a fine, upstanding, professional woman. When they were teens, Beau called her “Trouble”; she was the one who got away. When hometown boy, the wildly popular singer songwriter Beau Yates returns to Harmony to visit his father and sees her, she won’t know what hit her! Will they both feel the same way, or will Beau leave his heart behind again?
Johnny Wheeler is charged with murdering his cheating wife, but all he knows is that she disappeared with the man he caught her with. And that the local fortune teller believes he is not guilty. He doesn’t even know Kare Cunningham, much less why she feels as she does or wants to prove his innocence..
Jodi Thomas has designed the most remarkable town of Harmony; I’d like to go to visit and maybe settle in for a spell! One True Heart has it all – mystery, family drama, small town friendliness (and gossip), secrets and half-truths, and romance. There’s even a thug or two who are there to harm the hardworking townspeople.
The women are stronger than they appear, yet each needs someone to love and care for them in the same capacity that each of the guys needs to be loved and cared for. Some have had broken hearts, others broken lives. All have one thing in common: they refuse to give up, although they might be very hesitant of trusting someone new. I especially like Kare, who definitely is not who she seems to be, and Millanie. They are very different ladies who others would not think they would be friends. I like the strength of character that is demonstrated in the guys and gals who are at the center of the story and how those who are relatively new to Harmony – such as the Cunninghams – can be as much a part of the town as those whose roots go deep – such as Millanie, whose ancestors were among the founding families.
I very much enjoyed the characters and the story lines! The author has a gift to have these three plots going throughout the novel as well as for each couple to interact with each other and other people in town. It is delightful to see how Kare and Millanie team up to help each other find the thug(s) determined to harm others through their crimes with the high-rolling backers. Another thing I appreciate about this author is that she stops short of having explicit sexual scenes. While she has scenes that are passionate, she stops short of breaking the privacy of the characters’ moments. I appreciate Lark’s response to Beau, how she wanted to be treated – and would accept no less. These are strong women with self respect and honor!
Jodi Thomas has an endless imagination, a sense of humor, a heart that understands others, and the gift to put the people and situations in her head onto paper, translated with words of her heart, and weaves them together into a beautiful town that many of us would like to visit. This visit to Harmony is a treat! I highly recommend One True Heart to women of all ages who have enjoyed their previous trips to Harmony, to women who appreciate a good story with gentle romance, respect, mystery, and a small-town setting. It is worth every mile traveled to get there!
