relzreviewz.com The Key to Love by Betsy St. Amant

Synopsis:~

The only thing Bri Duval loves more than baking petit fours is romance. So much so, she’s created her own version of the famous Parisian lovelock wall at her bakery in Story, Kansas. She never expects it to go viral–or for Trek Magazine to send travel writer Gerard Fortier to feature the bakery. He’s definitely handsome, but Bri has been holding out for a love story like the one her parents had, and that certainly will not include the love-scorned-and-therefore-love-scorning Gerard.

Just when it seems Bri’s bakery is poised for unprecedented success, a series of events threaten not just her business but the pedestal she’s kept her parents on all these years. Maybe Gerard is right about romance. Or maybe Bri’s recipe just needs to be tweaked.

Novelist Betsy St. Amant invites you to experience this sweet story of how love doesn’t always look the way we expect–and maybe that’s a good thing.

Necee’s take:~

“She needed someone who could kiss her and make her foot pop like in the black-and-white movies. The only thing Charles made pop was her bubble of expectations.”

A little bit of Paris brought to small town America, St. Amant beautifully spins a tale of healing and finding love where you’d least expect it in The Key to Love. Bri Duval is wrapped up in waiting for her perfect love; a love like her parents had. She will do anything to keep the bakery in which her mom baked masterful pastries and confections. However, her whole world is flipped upside down when Gerard Fortier walks into their little bakery. This love-hate relationship had me yearning for their happily ever after. The matchmaking “Love Angels” have their own agenda and keep a dash of humor going throughout the book. I loved the Paris and wanderlust theme, which is truly the desire of Bri’s heart. I could relate with Bri’s desire to travel and yet, not wanting to leave her safe, small town. Gerard drove me a bit nuts with his attitude, but that was also what I loved about him.

“But he didn’t ask when everything was perfect. It’s easy to love when life is shiny and looks it best…”

“It’s easy to love when everything is perfect”

Another beautiful aspect of this tale in the town of Story, was seeing the beauty outside of perfection. As Bri is waiting for her knight in shining armor, she is missing out on the love God has all around her. Gerard is living in pessimism and a darker view of life after losing in love. As they both realize the lives they have lived has sheltered them from the love God has for them, the true beauty of their love begins to shine.

Though this is not a fast paced romance, it is filled with truths that made the story shine. I loved the small town feel and the references to Paris. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves contemporary small town romance with a twist of wanderlust in their hearts. Sometimes the unexpected brings us to a deeper place than we ever expected. It opens our hearts to dream bigger and perhaps put feet behind that dream.

I received a NetGalley copy of this book by the publisher, Revell. All opinions given in this review are my own and given honestly.

Meet Bri and Gerard later this week with a Character Spotlight from Betsy, plus a giveaway!