Painted Hearts
Indigo Lake #1
Author: Bec George
Narrators: Flora Ogilvy & Mat Dwyer
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Small-Town Romance
Format: ALC
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5 stars)
Release Date: July 1, 2026
Synopsis
After escaping an abusive relationship, Winnie arrives in Indigo Lake determined to start over.
Her dream has always been to open a paint-and-sip studio, and she's finally found the perfect place to make it happen.
Well...
Almost perfect.
The only problem is that her new studio shares a building with Everett's whiskey bar.
When Winnie paints her half of the building a bright bubblegum pink, Everett is less than impressed. Between clashing personalities, competing businesses, and apartments that are inconveniently connected, the two quickly become rivals.
Or...
At least that's what they keep telling themselves.
My Thoughts
This was such a sweet, cozy audiobook.
I actually started listening to it while working on a paint-by-numbers project (I'm definitely not an artist 😂), and honestly, it couldn't have been a better companion.
Relaxing.
Funny.
Romantic.
Exactly the kind of story I was in the mood for.
Winnie immediately won me over.
After leaving an abusive relationship, she's trying to rebuild her life one step at a time, and opening her own paint-and-sip studio represents much more than simply starting a business.
It's her chance to begin again.
Unfortunately for Everett...
...that fresh start comes in the form of bright pink paint covering half of the building he shares with her.
Needless to say, he's not exactly thrilled.
From there, the banter begins.
And it was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The grumpy/sunshine dynamic between Winnie and Everett worked incredibly well. Watching them argue over paint colors, noise, and their neighboring businesses while slowly falling for one another was simply fun.
Everett turned out to be such a wonderful hero.
Beneath all the grumpiness was someone incredibly thoughtful, dependable, and genuinely kind. Even while carrying the weight of his father's recent death, he constantly showed up for Winnie whenever she needed someone in her corner.
The small-town setting was another highlight.
Indigo Lake felt warm, welcoming, and full of quirky personalities.
The local gossip page had me laughing more than once...
And then there was Gavin.
The goose.
That feathery little menace nearly stole the entire book.
Every time Gavin appeared, I couldn't help smiling.
The romance itself is definitely a slow burn, which I normally love.
My only small criticism came once Winnie and Everett finally acknowledged their feelings.
Because of Winnie's past, Everett became almost too cautious.
His intentions made complete sense, and I appreciated how respectful he was of everything she'd been through.
But after a while, I found myself agreeing with Winnie.
She was telling him she was ready.
I just wanted him to stop overthinking everything and believe her.
Thankfully, this was only a minor issue in an otherwise delightful romance.
Finally, I have to mention the audiobook.
Flora Ogilvy and Mat Dwyer both delivered wonderful performances, bringing plenty of warmth, humor, and emotion to the story. Their narration made it incredibly easy to keep listening, and I found myself staying with the audiobook longer than I'd planned. (aka I finished it in one go and it was 9am when I did, but I have no regrets :D )
Final Thoughts
Painted Hearts is exactly the kind of romance I reach for when I want something comforting.
It's filled with lovable characters, small-town charm, witty banter, and a relationship that develops with genuine care and plenty of heart.
Throw in a hilarious gossip page, one unforgettable goose, and a touch of suspense surrounding Winnie's past, and you have a romance that left me smiling from beginning to end.
I'm already looking forward to returning to Indigo Lake.
⭐️ 4.5 stars
ALC Disclaimer
Thank you to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for providing the advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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