Know You by Heart | Tif Marcelo | Heart Resort #2

My Review

I am a sucker for this trope, and when I received this book, I couldn't resist reading it. I can easily keep up with the story without reading the first book in the series.

Chris and Eden agreed to five-year contract marriage to pursue their dreams. They always stick to the rules, respect each other but love, they believe, has no space in their lives. One threat to Heart Resort's reputation led Chris and Eden to the retreat to protect it, a retreat that promises Happily Ever After when this retreat begins to reveal their suppressed feelings not only to them but to the entire world. The secret of their conventional marriage, relationship, and emotions are too near to being revealed, or maybe it is the end of their marriage.

This novel wowed me by portraying the final days of a contract marriage rather than the beginning. The swing between the past and present in the book provides additional facts, secrets, and realities about their bond while never leaving you puzzled. Every aspect of the narrative moves at leisurely speed to allow the characters to grow. Eden and Chris are both affected by the ending of the marriage. I felt every ounce of frustration, ambiguity, temptation, annoyance, and irritation while reading the novel.

Eden is a romance novelist, and I applaud Tif Marcelo for portraying the authors' battle with deadlines and how difficult it is to juggle their personal and professional lives. Christopher charms me with his passion for his family and career, and I empathize with his struggle to express his thoughts. It's tough to overlook their chemistry and tension.

I'm completely smitten with the book's last section, which offers me a full exploration of reality experience for returning to reality after the high of the some day's lots of adventures, as well as for Chris and Eden returning to regular life after their retreat. If I said tears never welled up in my eyes after reading its raw and heavy emotion, I'd be lying.

It falls short of portraying the bond between the siblings and best friends. There are a few moments, but I need more details to feel their connection.

There is no way I can tell you not to read this funny, mature, heavy, and emotion-filled romance book. This book comes in a must-read.

Recommendation

• If you like to read romance books different from others with contract marriages, go for this one.
• If you want to read an emotion-filled book with drama, go with this one.
• A perfect book for newbies.
• You can read this book as a stand-alone.