Hearts

Truvy, an old-maid school teacher who secretly yearns to discover for herself "The Science of Life," meets bodybuilder, Jake, a man with secrets of his own, in Ms. Holm's fabulous finale to her Brides for All Season's series. Hearts is funny and tender. When it comes to Americana, no one does it better than Stef Ann Holm.

Stef Ann Holm has proven once again that she is the queen of the Americana romance. Reading HEARTS is like revisting old friends, as the book is set in Harmony, where the wonderful Brides for All Seasons series first started. I love reading books that give me warm fuzzies, and this book does all that and more. Jake and Truvy are a match made in heaven, and the chemistry between them is hot, yet sweet as Valentine's Day itself. As always, Stef Ann Holm's research and attention to detail is impeccable, and the characters really come alive. This is one of the best books of 2001 that I have read.

HEARTS is funny, touching, and very romantic! You won't be able to put this one down!

Early in the Teddy Roosevelt administration, Truvy Valentine teaches economics and coaches athletics at the all girls St. Francis Academy. Although a renegade in many ways, her energy makes Truvy a popular teacher among the administration, staff, and students. However, she totally crosses the line when she reads extracts from a nonregulated book, "The Science of Life," that provides insight on human sexuality to her students. Truvy is given a leave of absence to decide whether she can return under the condition that she teach inside the school's rules.Truvy travels to Harmony, Montana, home of her friend Edwinna Wolcott. There she meets Jake "Bruiser" Brewster, who runs a local gym and was once considered the world's strongest man. Truvy replaces the pregnant Edwinna teaching dance, with most of her students coming from Jake's gym. However, not only can't she dance in spite of being a talented athlete, she only wants to dance with Jake, not the men competing in a local physique contest.HEARTS is a superb historical romance that provides the audience with a feel for western America circa 1901. The story line is enjoyable as the tidbits of history are cleverly woven into the plot. Truvy and Jake are a dynamic duo and the support cast adds to the authenticity of the fabulous fourth and final book of Stef Ann Holm's wonderful "Brides for all Seasons" series.Harriet Klausner