Erin's Book #47: Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos

I snatched this book up after reading Belong to Me, which was the sequel. Oops. Turns out that, aside from knowing who the main character ends up with, it didn't really matter that I read the sequel first. In fact, I think I'm glad I did, as I liked this one much better.

The protagonist is Cornelia Brown, a young, single, smart but directionless woman looking for some answers. She thinks she finds them in the form of a handsome, wealthy older man. Through him, she meets Clare, a 12-year-old girl trying to keep her family together. The relationship between Cornelia and Clare is sweet and touching, and the heart of the novel.

Cornelia is a huge fan of old movies, particularly anything starring Cary Grant. The book is peppered with references to classic films, which was a fun touch. I felt this was a great opportunity to learn so much more about a character I liked, but didn't feel like I knew tons about. I read this entire book on a plane and it was a great choice for the flight - it was very easy to not put down.