GRR Reviews Intertwined Hearts by Kimi Flores

Intertwined Hearts used to be called "It all started with a lima bean", but I agree this title is more cliche but seems to work better. The novel is a family-friendly romance between a kindergarten teacher Abby with her personal pains from many years ago, and a widower father Caleb with his five-year-old daughter Madison, whose mother passed away less than a year after Madison was born, breaking Caleb's heart. Four years later, Madison is heading off to kindergarten, and Caleb encountered Abby, who stirred each other's soul like no other, but both will have to deal with their personal demons, and forgive those who wrong them, before they can accept each other's love, and perhaps, have a family for the little girl Madison, but vengeful families, doubtful ex's, catty moms, and other complications will threaten their relationship.

The characterization is slightly melodramatic, but deeper than the typical romance, for the prologue was Caleb, at his wife's deathbed, watching her final breath, and refusing to say goodbye. It was much later that Caleb was able to share the story of how he was redeemed by his dead wife, who changed him for the better before marrying him, much to his own family's consternation and his own "bad boy" image. Abby had her own problems, a betrayal so raw and so devastating to herself and her family that she had almost forsaken God, something she hadn't been able to forgive herself and the perp for several years, yet she needed to in order to be with Caleb. Add catting "helicopter moms" and jealous biatches envious of her bagging the most eligible bachelor (even a widower) in the community, and evil siblings of friends and friends of friends, and it's a lot of things the couple had to deal with before they can get the HEA. Grand gesture was nice, but the darkest hour wasn't that dark. Still, it's a sweet, clean, and wholesome family drama with a cute kid.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Widower father of young girl meets the kindergarten teacher with her own secret wound... 

Tropes: single parent, teacher/student (technically, student's parent), scars

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