About the Book
Javier Quintana knows his family’s struggling restaurant, El Corazon, needs help. But when his interfering siblings hire Molly Abbott, a successful food entrepreneur and his high-school sweetheart, he’s livid.
The way their relationship ended wasn’t pretty. And although Molly never married, she’s the single mom of an eleven-year-old daughter conceived right about the time of the breakup.
Molly’s ideas about farm-to-table, health-conscious Mexican food conflict with Javier’s strong sense of tradition, even as her joyous faith convicts him about his own lapse from the church of his youth.
Can a reunion romance bring happiness to two lonely souls who never forgot each other… or will their relationship be derailed by the secrets they both carry in their hearts?
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My Thoughts
What a wonderful beauty from ashes sweet romance! Fresh food and sustainable living are seamlessly tied into the storyline along with weightier issues like faith, forgiveness, legacy, and abuse.
Javier is a quintessential Darcy hero… tall, dark, and broody, devastatingly handsome, occasionally quick to judge, fiercely protective of his family, and he has some pride in there too 😉
As the eldest sibling, Javier is used to running the show and calling the shots in the family business (it’s a first born thing, believe me). I can see his white knuckles clinging to the comfort and security of control and tradition (I might have been helping him just a little bit… it’s always prudent to be cautious when considering possible changes).
Molly is a survivor, a mama bear, and an innovative entrepreneur. She has no intentions of being taken care of (or taken advantage of) ever again. Readers will relate to Molly’s single-minded determination to give her daughter the best life possible.
Secrets of the Heart gave me warm fuzzies and a serious craving for Mexican! Even though my stomach doesn’t benefit, I’m looking forward to visiting El Corazon again soon (fact or fictional, the food still makes my mouth water)!
I requested the opportunity to read and review this title through the author. The opinions expressed are my own.
This review first appeared on Faithfully Bookish.
About the Author
Lee Tobin McClain read Gone With The Wind in the third grade and has been an incurable romantic ever since. The PW bestselling author of fifteen contemporary Christian romances, she enjoys crafting emotional, faith-infused love stories with happy endings.
When she’s not writing, she’s probably driving around a carload of snarky teen girls, playing with her rescue dog and cat, or teaching aspiring writers in Seton Hill University’s MFA program. She is probably not cleaning her house.
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Also Available
Arcadia Valley Romance
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Website
Sacred Bond Friends & Family
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Let’s talk authentic Mexican food! I have a lot to learn!
Anyone have a favorite restaurant, dish, or recipe to share?
Diversity Between the Pages 
Ooh, I’m going to have to check this book out!
In terms of Mexican food. I’m no expert but I’m learning. Here’s a recipe for tamales, a challenging but delicious and authentic Mexican dish.
https://allisonkgarcia.wordpress.com/2016/07/02/leftover-tamales/
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Oooohh, I adore tamales!!! Thank you for sharing!
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No problem!
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I have a recipe for flour tortillas, my fave! I make them using a tortilla press and a griddle. But I have to find it first. 🙂
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Sounds delicious! I’ve seen those tortilla presses in action on Food Network, definitely makes me want to try it!
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3c flour, 1 1/2tsp salt, 1 1/2tsp baking powder, 1/2c shortening (or butter), 1c hot water. Mix dry ingredients. Add shortening. Slowly add water. Mix into dough. Roll ball onto floured surface. Break off tbsp size, roll into ball and flattened using tortilla press or roller pin. Cook med-high heat on griddle 1-2min on each side.
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Thanks so much for commenting, everyone! And Beth: you MUST get a tortilla press… you’ll never go back to store-bought! Toni, I’ve only ever used a tortilla press for corn tortillas, though–I’ll be interested to see your recipe for flour ones.
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Homemade from scratch is always better! I’ll never go back to store bought taco seasoning or enchilada sauce, that’s for sure!
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