Mysteries of the Heart
Widow Ada Montgomery and her 11-year-old daughter Felicity move across the country in search of a new life. She buys half of a beachside duplex near Santa Barbara. When she and Felicity try to befriend their new neighbor, Ethan Price, who lives on the other side of the house, he makes it clear he has no interest in being "neighborly." Ethan, a bestseller mystery novelist, recently divorced, lives a very isolated existence in his half of the beach house. Then mudslides cut off the PCH, their only way out, and also come down on either side of the shared house. Ada and Felicity must seek refuge with Ethan the Grump. Will the charm of Felicity — and Ada— win over their unwilling host?
REVIEWS
". . . a fast-paced romance that unfolds like a heartwarming
poem: tender, passionate, funny, and beautifully written. . .At
times, I felt as if I were watching a romantic comedy, with
characters revealing their vulnerability through sassy one-
liners." —Maalin Ogaja for Readers' Favorite
"Their relationship grows, along with themes of healing and
second chances, igniting a romantic spark that left me with a
big smile.". . .One of the things I loved about Mysteries of the
Heart was how it mixed humor and emotions with life's
challenges. . .[Ethan, Ada, and Felicity's] unique personalities
made their journey from strangers to family feel real and
interesting." —Mary Clarke for Readers' Favorite
"Beatrice Bancroft brings contemporary romance lovers a
scrumptious delight with Mysteries of the Heart. . .With an
engrossing mix of romance and drama, Beatrice Bancroft
delivers a heartwarming tale of love and family. Mysteries of the
Heart is one of those comfort reads that leaves you with a warm
glow in your heart, and you find yourself wanting to revisit it
over and over again." —Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
"Mysteries of the Heart by Beatrice Bancroft is wonderfully written,
and once you start reading it, there is no putting it down. . .I look
forward to reading more by Beatrice Bancroft."—Frank Mutuma, Readers' Favorite
5.0 out of 5 stars NOT a meet cute!
This book is wonderful!!! It is a true slice of life story about 2 middle aged people moving on with life. Their fortunate forced together meet rocks them out of the old and into a fresh new love! It is a fast fun read aided by the running tract of "opinions" of an eleven year old girl - something many of us can relate to! —Amazon Review
5.0 out of 5 stars More than 5 stars!!!
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2025
This is the second book I have read by Ms. Bancroft and I am looking forward to the next one. The book was beautifully written, with an interesting storyline and wonderful characters. I loved the interaction between Ada, her 11-year-old daughter, and their neighbor Ethan, who lives in the other half of the duplex. It has comedy and romance, and I give it more than 5 stars!!! —B. Erickson, Amazon Review