It Takes Heart

Written by Tif Marcelo

Narrated by Joy Regullano and Reuben Uy

From romance author Tif Marcelo comes a heartwarming story about taking a second chance on love at a family-owned couples resort.

Heart Resort, a private resort in the Outer Banks, is a romantic getaway for couples but a hotbed of family drama for its proprietors, the Puso family. Brandon Puso, the youngest of the four siblings, prefers life on his own as a licensed contractor in DC after a falling-out with his eldest brother.

After a hurricane plows through the Outer Banks, Brandon has a change of heart. He returns to the resort to help with the grand reopening but encounters his big sister’s best friend, designer Geneva Harris, who’s there to do the same thing. But Geneva and Brandon have a secret. Years ago, they had a secret romance that ended in heartbreak.

With the resort’s future at stake, Brandon and Geneva decide to put the past aside and to keep peace with the family. But as their mutual attraction heats up, they have to decide if history will repeat itself—or if this time, love gets a second chance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Aug 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9781713607892

Tif Marcelo

Tif Marcelo is a veteran army nurse and holds a BS in ursing and a Master’s in public administration. She believes and writes about the strength of families, the endurance of friendship, heartfelt romances, and is inspired daily by her own military hero husband and four children. She is also the author of Once Upon a Sunset, The Key to Happily Ever After, and the Journey to the Heart series.

Reviews for It Takes Heart

[madison_fairbanks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It Takes Heart by Tif MarceloHeart Resort series #1. Contemporary romance with extended family dynamics. Second chance, sibling best friend troupes. Filipino-American culture. Alternating chapters from Brandon and Geneva. Brandon returns to his family’s private resort in the Outer Banks to help win repairs from hurricane damage. Brandon will have to work with Geneva as the designer though their past is a bit rocky.Lots of family dealings and angst. Brandon and Geneva have a lot to work on emotionally. I wasn’t happy with their lying to each other but of course, they resolve their differences. Slow start with focus on family at heart with plenty of cultural add-ins.

[oddandbookish · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received an ARC of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. I thought this was a solid second chance romance and start to a new series.First off, I really enjoyed seeing all the Filipino culture. I am half Filipino myself so it was so amazing seeing the representation. From the Filipino names of the tiny homes to a discussion on “Filipino time,” there was so much culture woven throughout the book. Additionally, the family dynamic of the Puso family was very typical of a Filipino family. Side note, I loved that the resort was named Heart Resort because their last name, Puso, is Tagalog for heart. That was very clever.I also liked “cozy” feeling of the storyline. The plot was so family oriented and you could tell there was a lot of love between the family members themselves and their friends. My biggest issue with this book is the pacing. The book dragged in parts, mainly in the beginning and middle. There wasn’t a whole lot happening besides set up for future books in the series (i.e. relationship issues for Brandon’s other siblings). At times there was little focus on Brandon and Geneva’s romance. Towards the end the book finally picked up speed and became more exciting. Overall, I can tell this will be an amazing series. This book just fell a little short on Brandon and Geneva’s story.

[fredreeca · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Brandon and Geneva have known each other forever. Geneva is best friends with his sister. So, these two do everything they can to keep their past romance, which crashed and burned, a secret. But, when they come together for a family business venture…the chemistry is just too much to hide!There is just something about Tif Marcelo’s characters. They are always just a bit more unique than you expect. And this story is no different. I adore Brandon. He has family issues and he is trying so hard to fit back in where he belongs. Then there is Geneva. She is hardworking but a tad bit insecure about herself.These two characters get together…after a few hits and misses…and they end up helping each other see their real potential.I just love a story which is truly inspiring and encouraging! Need a quick, easy, heartwarming read…THIS IS IT!I received this novel from the author for a honest review.