"A warm, pleasant contemporary."

Palo Verde, Texas is practically a ghost town. Its buildings are falling down, and almost all but the most die hard of its inhabitants have moved away. But Ivy Parker has plans to rejuvenate the town and turn it into a tourist attraction, if only she can get a hold of their absentee landlord and talk him into helping them fix it up. He hasn't been replying to her letters and things look bleak, but this is the first place she has truly felt at home, the people here need her, and she is not about to give up without a fight.

Linc Galloway comes anonymously to Palo Verde to discover the true state of the legacy his dead brother, Garner, has left to his widow. Linc has long been estranged from his family and he feels that he should have been able to prevent his brother's death, if he had only been in touch with the family. He feels that the least he can do is help Garner's widow out of her financial problems by selling of the small dilapidated town. He somehow finds himself pitching in to help fix things up, growing to like Ivy and the town's other inhabitants. He has quite a dilemma on his hands, how to help these people, especially Ivy whom he has come to care for, and at the same time carry out the wishes of his father, and help the woman he has always thought he loved.

And how will Ivy feel about him if she ever discovers who he is and that he has lied to her?

WHAT THE HEART WANTS was a pleasant afternoon diversion. Ivy and her group of friends were generous, friendly people, who deserved a break. Although I became irritated with Linc's apparent need for his father's approval, even to the exclusion of his own happiness, I had faith in the fact that he was one white knight who would come to his senses and ride to the rescue of Ivy and her adopted family. He did not disappoint.

Reviewed by Janice Bennett
Posted June 30, 2002

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Summary

Ivy Parker never met a lost soul she didn't want to adopt; now she's taken on a whole town. After being banished at eighteen, Linc Galloway convinced himself home wasn't important--then he met Ivy. But Linc has one last chance for reconciliation with family that puts him in conflict with Ivy's fight to save her new home. When duty and honor are on the line, can two lonely souls afford to listen to...