The plot of THE HEART YOU KEPT promises love and loss in a compelling setting – antiques, France, a rich MMC and so on. I read this story in the last days of winter, and it sure cozied me up for a good reading time with some very fun, smart, confident characters caught up in love, secrets and looking over their shoulder for known- unknown enemies.

The story starts with the leads, Alora and Edward, meeting at a kink club, anonymous just for a couple of nights, and by the time they are on their separate ways, they are definitely feeling the loss of each other. Fast forward, they meet again at an auction where Alora has offered an internship at her antique shop, and no surprise, but exciting nonetheless, Edward bids for and wins the internship. The internship starts on shaky ground as both are in a committed relationship with people they aren’t in love with, but committed nonetheless. Soon, they break off with their partners, hook up just to get each other out of their systems. Once, though is not enough and risking all they embark on a journey to know each other and give their relationship a fair chance.

Along the way, both face resistance from their separate worlds, and people and secrets from their past interfere and put Alora in danger one too many times. The story ends on a cliffhanger. The next part will be released later in the year, towards the end of 2026.

I liked:

The banter between the main characters. Them being from different social classes makes up for a fun dynamic where the banter is on point. The little things like their dates, them spending time alone in each other’s house, is the heart of the story, the intimacy between them.

I enjoyed how unapologetic they were about their backgrounds. Their individualities were the highlights of them throughout the story. From the cozy dates to glamorous parties, meeting the families, it is a heady world with two people in love.

If I were to give you the highlights of the lead's background, it would be like this. Edward is from a titled English family, a casino mogul and everything that comes with the rich, very public and social life.  

Alora is an American in France. She opens her antique shop in France after inheriting a huge number of antiques from a relative who had been living in France for a long time. She is someone I’d describe as a smart bohemian in terms of her style and an all-round, vivacious, smart woman.

If you don’t mind reading a cliffhanger, a story set in Europe with the leads jetting between slow-paced store life and the fast-paced life of money and socializing bustle of Monaco, pick up THE HEART YOU KEPT for its setting, the straightforward, unapologetic dynamic between the leads. And if you feel it needs more, there’s some quirky characters there too, and plenty of secrets, suspense and drama to pace out the romance, love and lust too. I enjoyed it and am looking forward to what happens next.