121 reviews for:

Catch Her Heart

Julia Jarrett

3.8 AVERAGE

inspiring
lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Sweet, wholesome and light. There's not much angst and when there is some, it is resolved quickly. It's a nice book to read if you're looking for a golden retriever MMC and a sweet FMC who is looking for real love. It was nice to read.

The story of Lark and Dan is a compelling exploration of friendship, love, and timing. Lark, caught in the whirlwind of a pending marriage to someone else, finds herself at a crossroads with doubts clouding her journey to the altar. Meanwhile, Dan, the steadfast friend known for his unwavering support, harbours a secret longing for Lark, a sentiment he's kept hidden beneath layers of camaraderie and trust. As Lark decides to break off her engagement, a new chapter begins, offering Dan the opportunity to step out of the shadows and reveal his true feelings. Armed with sincerity and a deep understanding of Lark's heart, Dan embarks on a mission to show her that he is more than just a supportive friend; he is the partner she has been searching for all along. By portraying a virgin hero who is not immediately adept but rather learns and grows through experience, it adds a layer of realism and relatability to the narrative. This approach allows for a more authentic exploration of vulnerability and intimacy, where characters are not instantly perfect but instead develop through genuine connection and communication. Their story is a testament to the power of patience, the courage to embrace vulnerability, and the transformative nature of love when it is finally given a chance to flourish. 

Victoria Connolly and Tim Paige truly bring the characters of Lark and Monty to life, adding depth and nuance to their personalities. Connolly captures Lark's naivety with precision, weaving in a layer of vulnerability that evokes empathy from the audience. Her portrayal of Lark’s struggle with external pressures from Baron and the parents is skilfully executed, making the listener root for Lark to find her footing without harbouring any resentment towards her hesitations. On the other hand, Paige embodies Monty with a perfect blend of friendliness and underlying complexity, presenting Monty as a character full of warmth and eagerness yet subtly hints at the internal battles Monty faces. Paige's performance conveys Monty's innocence in experience, while still showcasing his strength and sensitivity, making him a multifaceted character that the audience can't help but be drawn to. Together, Connolly and Paige elevate the storytelling, engaging listeners with their dynamic and authentic portrayals. 


Golden retriever hero who will steal your heart
When I finally got the chance to dive into this beauty, I simply could not stop. I absolutely devoured this book & I’m not even halfway ashamed.
Monty is the guy on the team who supports everyone fully & everyone can rely on. He’s also the guy that everyone knows has been holding a pretty intense torch for his best friend, the team trainer. But as he’s firmly found himself in the friend zone, when she announces her engagement to another man, he simply supports her when he is secretly dying inside. 
Lark has lived a privileged life, but as she got older, she realized that she didn’t want to fall into the societal norms expected of her by her “family circle”. Pursuing her passion with a job as an athletic trainer, she’s already failed to meet familial expectations. So when her family approved boyfriend proposes, she finds herself being pushed into a life she never wanted.
I admired Monty’s support for Lark. He was the one she could always lean on, & she knew that when she needed someone by her side, he was there to jump in. I loved watching their relationship as friends & I loved watching it completely bloom as more. 
When Lark finally allowed herself to see Monty as more than a friend & more like the gorgeous man he was inside & out, she found how precious true love and affection could be.
From the ultimate unicorn of a main male character still with his v card, to an accidental pregnancy between best friends to lovers, Julia tackled some pretty difficult tropes with absolute perfection. This book is low angst & while there is a broken engagement, there is absolutely no cheating.

Audiobook Review:
Tim Paige & Victoria Connelly did a phenomenal job with this narration. Tim captured the happy go lucky fun loving side of Monty with perfection. And Victoria’s portrayal of Lark captured the many phases & emotions  with precision. 

I was in need of a friend’s to lovers romance. I absolutely enjoyed this story from start to end. It was a fast paced read that will keep you engaged and the spice is exquisite. Victoria Connolly and Tim Paige did a wonderful job narrating this story. 
emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character

Audio/ebook Review 
Narrated by Victoria Connelly & Tim Paige
 
Why am I such a huge sucker for a male virgin? Is it the “teach me” trope in reverse or that he “saved himself for the one”? Whatever it is, Julia Jarrett certainly brings a wonderful story of these two sweet souls and adds plenty of spice. Catch Her Heart is a heartwarming story of Monty, a baseball catcher, who has pined for his team’s trainer, Lark ever since he laid eyes on her. He was willing to be her best friend while she walked down the aisle marrying another man. But he may have his chance since there seems to be trouble in paradise for lark and her fiancé.
 
Packed with romantic gestures, swoony moments, steamy sex and “I’ve been waiting for you” vibes, this book will have you wanting to curl up in a cozy chair on a rainy winter day, with cocoa and listen to/read this in one sitting. And the tattoo??? Can Dan (Monty) be any sweeter? Oh, I’m melting. And as a fellow Star Wars junkie, kudos to Jarrett for all the Star Wars references.
 
Victoria Connelly’s narration of Lark is wonderful with a perfect blend of independent female with a soft vulnerable side. She has a really good male voice. And Tim Paige fully captures Monty’s golden retriever vibe. His smooth husky tone, with that touch of eager excitement that only a male who’s recently lost his virginity can have, is perfection. 
bookishraquel's profile picture

bookishraquel's review

4.0

Catch Her Heart is book three in the Vancouver Tridents series, following Lark Miller and Dan “Monty” Montgomery. I loved this swoony, friends-to-lovers, baseball romance. Monty has had feelings for Lark for a long time but settled for just being friends because Lark was in a relationship with someone else. He has been on the sidelines and deep in the friend zone, silently hoping for a chance to win her heart. Lark is not happy in her relationship and realizes her soon-to-be husband will never give her the love and companionship she desires. She has just been going through the motions to maintain her family's approval. When Lark decides to end her engagement, she starts to see Monty in a different light, and the door opens for Monty to show her how great they could be together.

I loved Lark and Monty together! They were meant to be, and I couldn't help but root for them. Lark and Monty had the sweetest, most unproblematic relationship ever, and I loved witnessing it develop into something amazing. Monty was down bad for Lark, and their already solid friendship made their romantic relationship even better. Their communication was on point, and I loved how they handled their surprise pregnancy. Monty's reaction to the news made me melt. He is so swoony and so good to Lark. Their journey to love just felt good and put a huge smile on my face. There was low drama, low angst, and no huge conflicts. Catch Her Heart is a super sweet and heartwarming addition to this series and I can't wait for the next book.

Narration:
Victoria Connolly and Tim Paige do a wonderful job with this dual-style narrated audiobook. They were the perfect voices for Lark and Monty. Victoria and Tim brought the characters to life and made it easy for me to sympathize with them. I felt the vulnerability and love shared between Lark and Monty as they navigated their feelings and new normal. Victoria and Tim's performances made this an easy and enjoyable listening experience.

 
Sweet, fun, romantic friends to lovers. 
 
This book made me smile from start to finish. Dan Montgomery, Monty, and Lark Miller, Birdie, have been best friends for years. She works for the professional baseball team he plays for. Monty is the ultimate golden retriever MMC and I adored him. He’s completely smitten with Lark but refuses to act on his feelings since she’s seeing someone out of respect for her. The only reason Lark has stayed in her current relationship is the pressure from their uptight families. 
After Lark comes to her senses and these two share their true feelings, it’s a delight. These two are so much fun together. Hot nerds are apparently a thing and I’m here for it. They share their love of all things Star Wars and just enjoy each other’s company. His devotion to Lark is second to none. However, when ‘baby bird’ enters the picture, Lark shows her true devotion to Monty as well. 
This is narrated by Tim Paige and Victoria Connolly. I haven’t heard too much from these two recently, but I thought it was perfect casting for this story. Tim was so entertaining as Monty. He expressed his spirit, and the inner monologues were so cute, especially during the intimate moments. Victoria gave us Lark’s strength and vulnerability as a woman working in a male dominate industry who just wants to be treated like a lady occasionally. 
 
This is an enjoyable, easy listen where he falls first and has no third act breakup. I listened to this straight through and loved every minute. I can’t wait for the next installment. 
 
ashleyreads0713's profile picture

ashleyreads0713's review

4.5
lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

There are some book couples that start off as friends that you ROOT for starting in the first book of the series, waiting for the moment where they get together. Julia Jarrett teased readers in her first two Vancouver Tridents series for Monty and Lark's book and did not disappoint! 

Monty has been in love with his trainer forever, but hides these feelings from her. She's engaged and he'd never ruin her happiness. As a pitcher for the Tridents, he's focused on getting to the championships and making the best out of the last few seasons his body will give him. But when Lark breaks up with her ex and jumps into his arms, he can't help but feel like he's caught her heart. 

Lark loves her job as a physical trainer but feels life is just... life. Knowing she's not truly in love with her fiancee, she ends it and realizes she has feelings for her best friend. She's got an internship coming up that she hopes to land along with Monty that she hopes reciprocates her feelings. 

Having Victoria Connolly and Tim Paige bring my favorite baseball couples story to life was the BEST surprise. I loved listening to this one, especially feeling the love/warmth both narrators brought out to each character. I immediately felt for Lark and wanted the best for her and her headstrong nature. Monty? Tim Paige nailed the puppy dog, golden retriever, he'll drop anything for his girl vibes. This is a comfort audio listen for me now and I can't wait to press play once more when I want something to binge as I miss baseball or gear up to attend home games. 

Thank you Home Cooked Books for the alc copy! 
hammock_andread's profile picture

hammock_andread's review

4.25
lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No