An enjoyable story about Molly Henderson and Ben Weaver. Both working as magazine writers for the same publishing company and both up for the same promotion. The deal is, Molly must take on Ben's "Outdoor Adventures" task (a kayaking trip with troubled teens), and Ben must take over Molly's "Quilter's Heart" project (making a quilt with a group of ladies). Neither have any idea what they are in for and as time goes by you will see the romance between them blossom. But can it last no matter who wins the challenge? Enjoyed my time with these two characters. ( )

4.5 stars.

Rival Hearts by Tara Randel is a delightfully heartwarming romance in the charming Quilts of Love series. Each novel in the series stands alone but the common theme that ties all of the novels together is the tagline "Every Quilt Has a Story". In Rival Hearts, a competition for a promotion pits complete opposites Molly Henderson and Ben Weaver against one another as they vie for the position, but quilting figures prominently in this engaging story.

Molly and Ben are senior editor and writers for the same publisher but that's where their similarities end. Molly's life takes place indoors and she has turned her passion for quilting into a career. Ben is active outdoorsman who has turned his love of extreme sports into a lucrative career in television and print. Molly is deeply rooted in the local community where she is actively involved in volunteer work and fundraising. Ben has no family or friends and until his recent return to Tampa, he has had no place to call home.

As Molly and Ben rise to the challenges facing them as they compete for the promotion, they begin to see not only one another, but themselves, in a new light. Both are pretty competitive and while it appears that Ben has an edge over Molly, she is stronger than she (or anyone else) thinks. Molly is literally a fish out of water as she learns how to kayak with the help of brother Paul and she not only gains confidence as she masters new skills, but she is delighted at the opportunity to repair their fractured relationship. Ben's overconfidence falters somewhat when confronted with learning how to quilt, but he is most intimidated by the women in Molly's quilting group.

What makes Rival Hearts such a wonderful read is what Molly and Ben take from their new experiences. As Ben is beginning to open up and let other people into his life, Molly learns the importance of asking and accepting a helping hand from friends and family. With both of them stepping out of their respective comfort zones, they gain valuable insight about themselves and each other. It is incredibly gratifying watching them embrace the changes that occur in both their professional and personal lives.

With its gentle undercurrent of faith, Rival Hearts is a sweet romance that stresses the importance of faith and forgiveness. The plot is refreshingly unique with issues that are easy to relate to. Tara Randel brings this tender love story vibrantly to life with a lovely cast of characters that are realistic and appealing. An incredibly heartfelt and engaging addition to the Quilts of Love series that old and new fans are going to love. ( )

With the first sentence, Tara Randel grabs your attention – and she doesn’t let go.

One of the things I love about the Quilts of Love series is how many different genres, timelines and lifestyles they cover. We have everything from a pioneering couple to a detective on the streets of a small town to rival magazine editors.

I’ve not read anything else by Tara Randel but it’s clear she has a talent for story telling. In Rival Hearts, she pulls us right in to the story and it’s clear from the first chapter that these two characters are in for an adventure they never could have seen coming.

Ben is clearly over-confident and Molly is timid but determined and we can see the sparks flying between our two main characters in their very first conversation.

Tara Randel makes the story so real to us – encompassing not just the competition and what it entails but also drawing the characters’ lives into the mix. And not just the sparks either, but what makes them tick and even some things that lurk beneath the surface.

Tara uses secondary characters brilliantly, involving friends and family as well as co-workers in this mad dash to the finish. And you may be surprised by how everything turns out. I won’t ruin it for you – it’s just too delicious!

Now I’m going to have to go find some of her other books and see if they’re just as entertaining and enjoyable!


I received this book free in exchange for an honest review. Actually I never got the book - due to address issues but I was supposed to so... I got it for kindle. ( )

Rival Hearts is my first read from author Tara Randel, a writer of five previous romance novels. When initially requested to read and review the story, the title left me curious; however, I soon discovered the story well defined by its title. Ben Masterson, chief editor for Masterson Publishing Company pits a dualistic competition of sorts between employs and colleagues Molly Henderson, editor of Quilter’s Heart, and Ben Weaver, editor of Outdoor Adventures. Masterson dangles the bait of the editor-in-chief of a new magazine, American Legend for the winner of this bout. The winner to be determined on one condition –Molly and Ben must switch roles for 30 days and write an article about the experience. Masterson deems himself judge over the contest and outcome. The switch means for Molly learning how to navigate a kayak and Ben to create a quilt.

Switching places! Was this a fair process of determining a winner? Molly had longevity as an employee of Masterson Publishing and Ben was a recent employ with only background experience as a world traveler in sports and outdoor adventures – oh yes, there is the time he hosted that TV series, Extreme Survivalist. Thirty days……that seems an impossible task for each in that time limit – unrealistic. These might have been questions both contestants thought privately, at least in my own thoughts. Nevertheless - the race is on!

Molly and Ben share little in common. Both have scars buried deep from their childhood. Ben lost his parents tragically at a young age, now exhausted from moving from place to place; while Molly was a sickly child feeling unloved and a disappointment to her parents Ben had no siblings, while Molly admired her much older brother and longed for his approval. With private battles of their own, the two diverse competitors go through intense and humorous battles while chasing the bait dangled before them. This becomes a captivating story about rival, romance, and reward.

Molly indeed has a quilter’s heart….soft and quiet…and as complex as a quilted design. With sensitivity toward the downtrodden, she spent many hours as a compassionate volunteer. Molly’s faith in God leads her on a path toward a talent for quilting – the joy of her life. Ben enters the scene with unknowns – and his personality, likes and dislikes seem to come in sporadic revealing throughout the story. He is due for a valuable lesson in more than quilting from Nora and the women of Molly’s Christian quilting group. What surprised me was the rapport between Molly and Ben….helping each other behind the scenes…until sabotage happened, derailing the trust and budding romance between them, each believing the other had been dishonest and manipulative. Ben and Molly truly become rivals….until the intervention of God, family, friends, and other characters to reveal the saboteur and change the whole game.

Ms. Randel’s story would appeal to any age group. Her writing is clean, fun, thoughtful and even a bit intriguing. Script was slow and repetitive at times, but so is real life. Personally, I felt the background details about the protagonists were more vital to my enjoyment of the book than the competition. At my age, perhaps it is less about the romance and more about the characters “whys” of their decisions. My fulfillment is when God has led to the making of the right decisions. My gratitude goes to Tara Randel for penning the best in the genre I enjoy reading.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity Group for an honest review. ( )

Rival Hearts by Tara Randel is another book in Abingdon’s Quilts of Love series. The tagline for this series is Every Quilt Has A Story and it is the quilt in this novel that really takes center stage. A contemporary romance with an opposites attract plot, Rival Hearts will appeal to romance lovers and avid quilters.

Molly Henderson is the 30-something editor of the quilting magazine, Quilter’s Heart. Dedicated to her job, she longs for the recognition her hard work and determination deserve. But when Ben Weaver, editor of Outdoor Adventures is pitted against her for a promotion, Molly puts aside her feelings of inadequacy and goes for the prize. Ben is surprised by Molly’s tenacity and competitive spirit and his growing attraction to her. Both want the big promotion, but is it worth the cost of friendship and possibly love?

Rival Hearts is a sweet love story featuring a stay inside gal and a daring outdoorsman — seemingly opposites in every way. But both have feelings of unconnectedness and loneliness. Though they go about their lives and the turn-about competition from different directions, they ultimately come to the same conclusion – love is worth the work and the vulnerability. Molly’s selfless and caring nature and Ben’s fear of loss and rejection make these characters very real and relatable. There is some humor and a little bit of mystery in this book as well. The featured quilt, though, was my favorite element of the book. I loved the idea of taking scraps of fabric from women’s lives, many with heartfelt stories attached, and joining them into a beautiful quilt that would benefit other women in need.

If you like your romance sweet or if you love quilting, be sure to check out Rival Hearts by Tara Randel.

Recommended.

(Thanks to LitFuse and Abingdon Press for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )