Review: One of the sweetest love stories I've ever read
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 21, 2014
Brianna Heart has been playing it safe for six years now, ever since she became a mother and realized that nothing in the world was more important than her child's happiness — not even her own.  Between juggling jobs and raising her daughter Layla, she doesn't have time for dating, and she certainly doesn't want to introduce some guy to Layla just to have him leave when things don't work out.Hugh Braden has been living it up, capitalizing on his fame to live life his way, without commitments tethering him down.  The last thing he's looking for is safe and stable, but when he meets a cautious but beautiful waitress, his carefree non-plan goes out the window.The Verdict: Today, the role of ysar is being played by the giant puddle of mush left after reading this book.Clearly, I read a lot of romance.  Some of it's funny or sweet or sizzling hot, and occasionally I'll come across something that has me watching for the opportunity to grab a free copy of something else.  But rarely do I dip into whatever money I've managed to put aside for overdue bills in order to buy everything I can get my hands on.  I might have done that here, with this series.  And it might (assuming “might” means “omg, absolutely!”) have been totally worth it.Hearts at Play is easily one of the sweetest love stories I've ever read, without once making me roll my eyes or think, “Well, of course it's sweet; it's obviously fiction.”  Hugh is damned near perfect — without being utterly cheesy and overdone — and Brianna is so damned believable that she's got to be based on someone real.  Perhaps it's because I grew up with a parent who tried so hard to date responsibly, without introducing me or my brother to anyone who might not stick around, that I so totally understood Bree.  Whatever it was, I was beyond thrilled when Layla was mentioned, and I was completely sucked in and ultimately blown away by their story.  Not only do I want my own Hugh, but I'm pretty sure I want my own Layla — because, damn, that kid's cute.What's really telling, though, is that I sat here and absorbed every bit of the end of the story.  I'm not in a habit of skipping endings, mind you, but generally when a wedding is looming, I begin to mentally check out, skimming past the way-too-fluffy vows and so-romantic-I-want-to-puke ceremony.  In fact, I'm usually cringing much earlier than that, when whatever silly antics masquerading as a proposal are foreshadowed.  But I'm pretty sure I lived and breathed this one, and if I didn't know better, I'd say I might have even experienced something reminiscent of emotion — something I try to avoid at all costs unless it involves spoiling a dog or celebrating an unopened pack of cigarettes magically produced by my couch cushions.  If this keeps up, I might actually start acting like a girl!The whole Love in Bloom series is just amazing, and if you've read my reviews so far, you know I'm ridiculously addicted.  It goes without saying that anyone who loves a good love story should grab them all, but believe me, Hearts at Play is the one that will own you.