Toni BlakeThe Giving Heart (Summer Island, 2)

Read in one night. Pulled me in very quickly. Loved the setting and everything about it. True unexpected romance does exist.

I've been craving holiday romances and I've enjoyed the ones I've read, but The Giving Heart just consumed me. So much so that I've reread it several times over the past week.There's just something about this book that pulled me in. Consumed my thoughts and feelings. Maybe it's the small town feel - that sense of community that is unique to the residents. I've always wondered what it's like to live on a small island and reading books like this make me crave to experience that. Or it could have been that the book wasn't just about Beck and Lila, but included other residents of Summer Island, and I am anxious to learn more about these other characters. (I see who the next book in the series is about and I AM DYING to read it.) Perhaps it was the sentimentality of the season. The underlying principle to be a little more caring, patient, understanding, forgiving. That hope that blooms in our hearts for Christmas miracles. You want to see them happen. Believe that good things happen to good people.And I think all of those things made me fall helplessly in love with The Giving Heart. In addition to those reasons, I loved Beck and Lila's story. Both have so much emotional baggage from their childhood that has shaped the way they perceive current relationships and life in general. Both are trying to move past those issues and leave them firmly in the past, but that is easier said than done. And when something happens to Lila that sends her running to Summer Island to hide away while she comes to terms with it, she winds up doing a whole lot of soul searching and resolving issues that are weighing heavily on her heart and mind.I thoroughly enjoyed The Giving Heart and it reminded me of why I love holiday books, movies, and music so much. Thank you, Ms. Blake, for this beautiful book that touched my heart and soul, and is one I know I'll reread many times in the future.

This is book #2 in the Summer Island series. It is the story of Lila Sloan and Beck Grainger."SPEND A WHITE CHRISTMAS SUMMER ON SUMMER ISLAND, WHERE FIRES ARE WARM AND THE ROMANCE IS HOTTER"Lila is house-sitting for her sister Meg on remote Summer Island. She doesn't know what made her think this would be a good idea. And to top it off, Beck is trying to cut down the trees that line the property of the Inn. Meg will never forgive the local real estate developer or her if she can't stop him.Beck tries to understand Lila's anger but he is having trouble doing do. The trees are actually on the property next to the Inn's and the land was zoned months ago. His plans for development were no secret. He doesn't like being at odds with his friend's sister. She is appealing to him with her loyalty and she is absolutely stunning.Lila is very attracted to Beck and their chemistry is off the charts. Beck seems like a genuinely good man, but she isn't understanding of his tree-murdering tendencies. She wishes he would just let go of this property development.Summer Island counts down to a snowy Christmas and Lila and Beck must reach a compromise. Is a compromise impossible for both of them? Will they risk losing the best thing they ever had?I enjoyed this story. I liked how Lila and Beck came to understand several things about themselves and each other. I liked how they worked out their problem with the intention of trying to be true to themselves and each other.

A wonderful romantic small town Christmas read from Toni Blake kept me glued to the pages for hours. I felt like I was right there on the island experiencing all the feelings & the chill in the air that all the characters were feeling. The Giving Heart is the second in the Summer Island series. It’s a stand-alone story with a very Happy Ending. I read this one first not realizing there was a 1 & 3 but it didn’t spoil it for me to read the other two.Enjoy the read!

I read book 1 of Summer Island series and I immediately pre-ordered The Giving Heart. The characters became friends one cared about - Lila and Beck worked out their insecurities from bad experiences surrounded by Suzanne, Dahlia, absent sister Meg, and the loveable little Cade. Summer Island was a beautiful setting and a place I'd love to visit.

It was a great book by a great writer

Good read

Another great book by Toni. If you’ve not yet read one of her books you’re missing out! Her writing style is so vivid you can’t help but feel a part of the story and the friendships her characters share.