Summary:
Ty O’Malley loves Spoilt for Choice, his gift shop. He enjoys nothing more than helping his customers find the perfect present. The only exception is Valentine’s Day. Ever since his partner left him, three years previously, Ty hasn’t been able to enjoy the love-themed holiday, and goes out of his way to avoid dealing with it. This year will be no different — until his assistant interferes.
When Ben Cronin walks into his premises, looking for presents for a man he doesn’t know but has been admiring from afar, Ty can’t deny Ben is everything he would look for in a man — if he happened to be looking, which he isn’t. Besides, Ben has obviously set his sights on someone else.
As Ty instructs Ben in the art of finding the perfect gift, the two men grow closer. But there are only four weeks until Valentine’s Day. After February fourteenth, Ty will probably never see Ben again … Or will he?
Summary:
Ben Cronin and Ty O’Malley have been inseparable ever since they got together on Valentine’s Day. Nine months into their relationship, dark clouds descend when Ben’s father falls seriously ill and dies in a matter of weeks. Having lost his only close relative, Ben is grief-stricken, and appears to be sinking ever deeper into a black hole.
Desperate to help Ben cope with his pain, Ty plans a getaway for them, to coincide with their first anniversary. But taking Ben back to the stunning beauty of the Swiss Alps, a place he visited with his father years ago, is a risky undertaking. Reuniting him with memories could as easily push Ben deeper into his pain as it might help him find the first traces of light.
Ty’s plan will either bring them closer than they’ve ever been, or spell disaster— for both of them.
Valentine’s surprise is the sequel to Valentine’s Love. While it can be read as a stand-alone, you’ll enjoy this story more if you read Valentine’s Love first.
Summary:
Ty O’Malley and Ben Cronin joyfully invite you to help them celebrate their marriage on Valentine’s Day!
Two weeks before the big day, Ty and Ben can relax. With the ceremony planned and the party venue booked, they’re looking forward to counting down the moments until they are husband and husband.
Then…disaster strikes.
After the hotel cancels their reception booking, Ty and Ben resign themselves to a wedding day without a big celebration. That is, until their ever-impulsive friend, Claire, offers to organize a party for them without revealing what she has in mind. Out of options, the grooms-to-be allow Claire to take the reins.
But with no idea what awaits them and many surprises in store, will Valentine’s Day turn into an unmitigated disaster or the best day of their lives?
Valentine’s Vows is the third title in the Valentine’s Love series and best read in sequence.
Original Review February 2019:
How can anyone not love Ty O'Malley? I certainly understand his less than favorable feelings toward the whole Valentine's Day concept but one never knows what is around the corner. As for his shop, Spoilt for Choice, what I wouldn't give to have something similar in my town. As for Ben Cronin who comes looking for the perfect Valentine gift for a secret crush, his need for that perfect gift is exactly what Ty needs to realize the holiday doesn't have to be all about the heartache he lived three years prior when his partner left him. Valentine's Love is a beautifully written short novella with incredibly fun and heartwarming characters that are not rushed despite the shortness of pages and brief time period the story is set in. How I missed this little holiday gem from Helena Stone last year is beyond me but I'm glad I discovered it now.
Valentine's Surprise #2
Original Review February 2019:
It has been a year since Ben first walked into Ty's shop, Spoilt for Choice and now its Ty's turn to find the perfect gift for Valentine's Day. Unfortunately, Ben hasn't had an easy time of it lately with the passing of his father so Ty's gift is not only for the lover's holiday but it is also to brighten Ben's mood. Valentine' Surprise is another beautifully written heartwarming tale from the delightfully talented Helena Stone, however it is probably not as upbeat at times as the first one, Valentine's Love, but it is no less entertaining and fun. How can a story be "not as upbeat" and "fun" at the same time? When scripted well those two emotions actually go hand-in-hand because it shows progress of characters' feelings and lives. So even though I found Surprise to have a little more heartbreak I also found it to have more love because it shows the lengths one goes to support the one's they love.
I don't want to give any particulars away but just know that Ben and Ty's relationship is lovely but not always easy, which is only natural and Helena Stone has created a very real and beautiful love story with this novella series. Perhaps if we're real nice we'll get to see more of Ben and Ty, not only next Valentine's Day but maybe even see what their Christmases are like😉😉.
Valentine's Vow #3
I can't say I forgot how much I loved Ty and Ben, how can one forget a couple who is just so lovely and fun? I will admit I wasn't thinking about them as the holiday approached(though to be completely honest my mind and time has been a bit distracted the past few weeks with my mom's hip surgery😉) so when the author reached out to me about reading it, I was all kinds of grabby hands and "yes please!".
I was not disappointed. Okay maybe a little disappointed at the the thought this was the finale in Ty and Ben's story but not in the story itself.
So as you know, no spoilers will cross my lips(or fingers😉) but I will say that if their story had to end I can't imagine a better way than Valentine's Vows. Happiness is never in question but what kind of "fix" has Clair come up with for their ruined reception plans? Again, no spoilers from me but it's perfect. From the anxiety the guys, mainly Ty, feel over losing their original planned hotel venue to wondering what she's going to come up with in two weeks to the joy of being husbands.
Ty and Ben's journey is fun, romantic, sweet, sexy, heartwarming, and completely endearing. It's full of people you want to know and maybe even do know, to me that's what really makes this trilogy extra lovely is the realistic-ness of the characters. A true gem all the way around.
RATING:
Helena Stone can’t remember a life before words and reading. After growing up in a household where no holiday or festivity was complete without at least one new book, it’s hardly surprising she now owns more books than shelf space while her Kindle is about to explode.
The urge to write came as a surprise. The realisation that people might enjoy her words was a shock to say the least. Now that the writing bug has well and truly taken hold, Helena can no longer imagine not sharing the characters in her head and heart with the rest of the world.
Having left the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam for the peace and quiet of the Irish Country side she divides her time between reading, writing, long and often wet walks with the dog, her part-time job in a library, a grown-up daughter and her ever loving and patient husband.
GOOGLE PLAY / MeWe / iTUNES
EMAIL: helenastoneauthor@gmail.com
Valentine's Love #1
Valentine's Surprise #2
Valentine's Vows #3
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