Maggie Blackbird

Today, I’m hosting author Angie Cole’s latest release, Their Mended Hearts, book two in the Cardinal Creek series, a sweet contemporary romance. Be sure to read my review. And check out my review for the first novel here. Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

“A second chance at love… if they’re brave enough to take it.”

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Title: Their Mended Hearts
Series: Cardinal Creek, Book 2
Author: Angie Cole
Genre: Sweet Small-Town Contemporary Second-Chance Romance

He’s a firefighter haunted by tragedy; she’s a nurse who never stopped loving him. Jon and Katie find themselves drawn back together, bound by shared history and the promise of healing and hope.

Blurb: Jon Clemmons, a devoted firefighter, carries the heavy burden of guilt from losing his sister in a tragic accident. His pain runs deep, and he’s learned to keep others at a distance, afraid to let anyone see his scars.

Katie Deluca, a compassionate nurse, and Jon’s first love, has her own wounds, but she’s never stopped caring for him. When they’re reunited at a family wedding, old sparks reignite, and with them, old hurts that need mending.

As Jon and Katie draw closer, Jon’s troubled past, family secrets, and a volatile temper threaten to unravel the bond between them. Katie’s unwavering love gives him hope, but fears of reliving their painful past linger.

Will they find strength in each other to break free from the grip of old grief, or will their love slip away once more?

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“You don’t love me. If you did, you’d stop drinking.”

Katie’s words cut through Jon like a blade. He wanted to be the man she deserved, but the weight of his past was crushing him.

“Why should I change when there’s no hope and no one else in my life?” he muttered, reaching for the whiskey bottle.

But deep down, he knew—Katie had always been his light. And if he wanted a future with her, he had to fight for it.

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I read the first book in the series, Their Shattered Hearts, so I was in when book two came up for review for a blog tour.  I must admit, after the first book, I wanted to find out what happened between Jon and Katie, because both didn’t seem to be doing well in the first story.  By the way, this book stands alone.  You don’t need to read the first one, but I recommend that you do because it’s a great read.

Anyhoo, Jon is drinking himself into an early grave.  He can’t cope with losing his sister.  Being a first responder, he was at the scene when she died in front of him during a horrific car crash.  Besides his grief, since his sister was married to his best friend, he has a horrendous past he must confront, but he won’t.  Jon is the type of man who closes down from others and finds solace in his cat and bottle.

Katie is a go-getter and very ambitious.  She enjoys her position as head nurse at the hospital.  Being such a caretaker of others, it’s only natural she’s drawn to this profession.  Katie loves taking care of everyone, so much so that she forgets about herself and brushes aside her own needs.  I found she does this tons in the novel, especially when it comes to Jon.  Instead of communicating her grief over losing her best friend (Jon’s dead sister), she buries herself in work and helping others.

When these two get a chance to reconnect (they had a romance that got away previously), you know it’s going to be very bad.  And it is.  Neither is ready to take on a relationship when they both have too much baggage in their own lives.  A person needs to address their problems first before they can think of getting together with someone else.  But they do!  This provides the conflict for the story.  Especially when you add in a pregnancy.

The author really hits the conflict home in this one.  As a reader, I kept wondering how they’d make this work, especially when it came to Jon who had a buffet of problems, besides alcohol.

The author always brings real life into her romances.  And I love this.  There are no witty conversations.  No over-the-top bantering.  No savvy or witty dialogue.  No crazy situations that turn into a wild mess.  Just real people who say real things and have real problems.  These are my favourite kinds of reads.  And the author brings it home in her second novel.

We also have Will from the previous novel, who is being his usual judgmental self (I don’t mean this in a mean way because he does his share of growing through the story, too), and Anna, who is caught in the middle.  But my fave is Liz, Will and Katie’s mother, who is the voice of reason (I gotta admit I hope she gets her own novella, like a Christmas one, since she deserves a romance).  Add in the other secondary characters who are as real as the main characters, and you have a great recipe for a good novel.

I recommend that you give the Cardinal Creek series a try.  You won’t regret it.

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Title: Their Shattered Hearts
Series: Cardinal Creek, Book 2
Author: Angie Cole
Genre: Sweet Small-Town Contemporary Second-Chance Romance

He’s a firefighter with a broken heart. She is a nurse with a hidden secret and a heart that has been broken. Can love give them the strength to heal?

Blurb: Will Deluca, a firefighter and ranch owner, hides his pain behind a rugged exterior. After the tragic loss of his wife, his days on the Rockin’ D Ranch are filled with hard work, caring for his two children, and carrying the heavy burden of unfulfilled promises. In the quiet hills of Texas, his world feels as empty as the vast plains.

When Anna Samuels, a compassionate nurse with a heart for healing, arrives in Cardinal Creek, she’s seeking a fresh start. Leaving behind heartbreak, Anna’s journey brings her to the ranch, where Will’s piercing blue eyes and quiet strength draw her in. Together, they find a spark of hope—something neither thought they’d feel again.

As their connection deepens, Will dreams of honoring his late wife’s wish to create a sanctuary for children with autism, blending his cowboy roots with a mission of healing. But his lingering guilt threatens to pull him back into darkness, jeopardizing their fragile bond.

Anna sees Will’s strength and kindness, but her secret—casts doubt over their growing love. Will her secret be the ultimate test of their love?

Will they find the courage to confront their demons and embrace the love they both deserve or will the ghosts of their pasts keep their hearts shattered forever?

Set in the heart of Texas Hill Country, THEIR SHATTERED HEARTS is a heartfelt story of second chances, featuring relatable characters, small-town charm, and the unyielding spirit of love. This western ranch romance will captivate readers who adore cowboy romance books with emotional depth and a loving MMC.

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My journey as a romance author is deeply rooted in my personal experiences of love, loss, and resilience. The profound impact of the losses I have endured, including the passing of my grandparents and my parents, has shaped my perspective on life and love.

My own love story is one of healing and finding joy after heartache, and it mirrors the themes I explore in my novels.

As a survivor of grief and a believer in the power of love, I channel my experiences into crafting stories that resonate with the complexities and triumphs of the human heart. My writing is a testament to the idea that love can emerge from the most unexpected places, offering hope and healing. The one thing that can be learned from grief is that it’s a very personal experience and isn’t the same for every person.

Follow Angie: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bookbub | Amazon | Goodreads

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