Release Blitz + Review: "Straight from the Hart" by Tracie Banister

Congratulations to Tracie Banister on the release of her newest standalone novel, "Straight from the Hart." I had high expectations for this book because I loved Banister's last book, "In the Swim of Things," so much; thankfully, it not only met those expectations but exceeded them.

 

"Straight from the Hart" was the story of Vanessa Hart, a Los Angeles-based romance concierge whose mission was to plan romantic occasions such as marriage proposals and anniversary celebrations for her clients. After her last relationship ended badly four years earlier, Vanessa chose to focus on building her business, but had also entered into a "fauxmance" with her friend Ian to help sell her romantic image to her clients. Everything seemed to be going according to plan until the day Vanessa's ex, celebrity publicist Alex Farr, walked back into her life. He offered her a professional opportunity she couldn't refuse, but she was determined to keep him at arm's length to avoid getting hurt again. 

 

I really enjoyed the intrigue as Vanessa and Alex attempted to get to the bottom of the cheating scandal that threatened their clients' marriage. That part of the story wrapped up about two-thirds of the way through the book, however, which is when the slowly simmering romance between Vanessa and Alex really started to heat up. Alex had an uphill battle to convince Vanessa that he was no longer the workaholic commitment-phobe she walked away from four years earlier, but with a little help from Vanessa's endearingly flamboyant grandmother, famous actress Vivian Hart, and a truly epic grand gesture, he managed to win her heart.

  

Overall, "Straight from the Hart" was charming, sweet, and laugh-out-loud funny, and I highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance, romantic comedy, and chick lit. I look forward to whatever Tracie Banister writes next!
 

*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.  

 

About "Straight from the Hart"

Romance isn’t dead. At least not as long as Vanessa Hart has anything to say about it.

Having founded her own romance concierge business, Vanessa helps the couples of Los Angeles keep the spark alive by planning unique and unforgettable experiences guaranteed to make them fall even deeper in love. But playing Cupid doesn’t leave this boss lady any time to lock down her own happily ever after, or so she claims.

Vanessa is secretly nursing a broken heart from her last serious relationship, which ended badly, like donate everything he left at her apartment to Goodwill and refuse to ever speak his name again badly. When Vanessa’s ex, celebrity publicist Alex Farr, reappears in her life with an intriguing business proposition, she’d like to tell him where to stuff it, but . . .

Straight from the Hart is under attack by an unscrupulous former employee and getting the endorsement of Alex’s A-list client would prove Vanessa’s the best romance concierge in town. All she has to do is save the marriage of “It Couple” Jax and Jaz, which is teetering on the edge of a fault line thanks to his drunken indiscretion with a co-star, and get the twosome back on the red carpet in time for Jax’s film premiere. If only Vanessa didn’t have to work side-by-side with the man she once adored and now wants to throttle. Jax and Jaz might be soulmates who deserve a second chance, but there’s no going back for her and Alex. They are done. Over. Finished. Kaput. Vanessa just has to keep telling herself that until she believes it.