Heart Land: A Novel

by Kimberly Stuart

Overview

A story of reconnection, lost love, and the power of faith, Heart Land follows a struggling fashion designer back to her small Iowa hometown as she tries to follow her dreams of success and finding true love.

Grace Klaren has finally made her dream of living in the Big Apple and working in the fashion industry a reality. But when she’s unexpectedly fired and can’t afford the next month’s rent, Grace does something she never thought she’d do: she moves back home.

Back in Silver Creek, Iowa, Grace is determined to hate it. She rails against the quiet of her small town, where everything closes early, where there’s no nightlife, where everyone knows each other. She’s saving her pennies and plotting her return to New York when she almost runs over a man who’s not paying attention at a crosswalk. It turns out to be Tucker, her high school sweetheart whose heart she broke when she left ten years ago. They reconnect, and Grace remembers why she fell for him in the first place.

And her career begins to turn around when she finds a gorgeous but tattered vintage dress at a flea market. She buys it, rips it apart seam by seam, and re-creates it with new fabric, updating the look with some of her own design ideas. She snaps a picture and lists the dress online, and within a day, it sells for nearly $200. Suddenly, Grace has her ticket out of here.

But Grace can’t fight her growing feelings for Tucker. Sometimes when they’re together, Tucker paints a picture of what their future could be like, and it feels so real. And when she finally gains the funding to move her new business back to New York, Grace must decide where home really is—will she chase her long-held New York dream, or find a new dream here in the heartland?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781501180569
Publisher:	Howard Books
Publication date:	07/17/2018
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	681,047
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Kimberly Stuart has always treasured a good story and a good laugh. When she’s not engrossed in the charming chaos of motherhood, Stuart writes stories that are intended to make readers laugh often and cry once—maybe twice. Kimberly resides in Des Moines, Iowa, with her fantastic husband and their three wily children.

Editorial Reviews

05/14/2018
Stuart (the Heidi Elliot series) tells a heartwarming, faith-based tale of a driven woman struggling to straddle small-town life with big city aspirations. Aspiring designer Grace Kleren has dreams of working her way up in the New York City fashion industry, but a disastrous interview with a powerful designer leaves her future in limbo. Ready to regroup and develop a plan after half a decade in the city, Grace decides to return home to Silver Creek, Iowa, and into the loving arms of her grandmother, Gigi. As she works at Gigi’s flea market stall selling retro dresses, Grace becomes inspired and uses her design knowledge to update the looks of the dresses. When her dresses start selling both at the flea market and online, Grace believes she’s found a way back to New York. As Grace grows her side business into a full-fledged company, she enlists local sewing circles to help and becomes reacquainted with her high school sweetheart, Tucker Van Es. But when a former boss offers Grace a dream job back in New York, Grace is torn about her future. Stuart’s inclusion of God and the Bible are minimal but effectively illustrate how important God is in the lives of both Gigi and Tucker—something Grace missed when she was in New York. Although Grace frets about her relationship to Tucker, romance is never the focus of the story. Stuart’s wholesome, fun tale wonderfully conveys Grace’s journey toward realizing her dreams. (July)

Publishers Weekly

"A love letter to small-town Iowa... Sweet and honest, I'm tucking Heart Land onto my keeper shelf."

Hillary Manton Lodge

Full of whimsy and soul, its big city and small town settings and quirky cast will enchant and delight you.

Kara Isaac

Heart Land is a fun-filled romp with heart! Stuart has a fun, lighthearted voice, which is exactly what the world needs right now! If you're in need of a humorous pick-me-up with romance and warmth, this book comes highly recommended.

Kristin Billerbeck

"A tender, funny book that hits all the right notes... This endearing, beautifully told story will leave readers hope-filled and convinced of the power of the human spirit.

Nicole Baart