Change of Heart, the new release from Clare Lydon is charming. I haven’t read a lot of Clare’s books, but I feel that with my 44% British heritage (thanks for that, Ancestry.com), I should rectify that egregious error.

The story begins twenty years earlier with Steph Mitchell in the hospital recovering from surgery. She has lived the last six years waiting for the chance to run, dance, kiss a girl and now she is determined to live her life to the fullest. Present day and Steph is living her dream of being an actress. Well, she’s not exactly Dame Judy Dench, but she is a fabulous beanstalk and at least she’s alive and on a stage somewhere.

Erin Stewart must attend her parents 40th anniversary party but will be doing so yet again without a partner to be scrutinized by her family and judged for her eternally single status. Until, her friend Morag suggests she hire someone to go with her and pretend to be her girlfriend. At first she balks but then comes around to the idea.

We all know how these fauxmances go but the getting there is still fun!  This one has a twist that I saw coming but was still done well enough to keep me interested. The great appeal of this book are the characters.

Steph and Erin are both sweethearts who have been weary of relationships in the past. Who wants to put your self out there when it rarely works or people just end up leaving you.  I found both of these characters utterly charming and was very invested in their story. The characters that surrounded them frustrated me, that would be you, Erin’s parents. But luckily her best friend Morag and Steph’s friend Michael were wonderful enough I almost forgot how much I wanted to smack Erin’s parents.

I would recommend this book if you’re looking for a charming romance set in the Scottish Highlands with likable characters and a sweet love story.

ARC received from the author for an honest review