Review: Sunset in Central Park by Sarah Morgan

Title: Sunset in Central Park by Sarah Morgan
From Manhattan with Love Series Book Two
Publisher: HQN books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

In the chaos of New York, true love can be hard to find, even when it’s been right under your nose all along…

Love has never been a priority for garden designer Frankie Cole. After witnessing the fallout of her parents’ divorce, she’s seen the devastation an overload of emotion can cause. The only man she feels comfortable with is her friend Matt—but that’s strictly platonic. If only she found it easier to ignore the way he makes her heart race…

Matt Walker has loved Frankie for years but, sensing how fragile she is beneath her feisty exterior, has always played it cool. But then he uncovers new depths to the girl he’s known forever and doesn’t want to wait a moment longer. He knows Frankie has secrets and has buried them deep, but can Matt persuade her to trust him with her heart and kiss him under the Manhattan sunset?

Review:

The second installment in Sarah Morgan’scharming From Manhattan with Love series,Sunset in Central Park is an absolutely delightful friends to lovers romance. In this outing, relationship shy Frankie Cole is stunned by her sudden attraction to her longtime friend, Matt Walker. Convinced there is no such as happily ever after, Frankie is afraid to risk ruining their friendship by dating but will Matt persuade her to  give him (and them) a chance?

After her parents’ devastating divorce, Frankie has a jaundiced outlook on love and marriage.  She goes out of her to be as inconspicuous as possible and she has her barriers firmly in place.  Although she is quite close to her best friends, Eva and Matt’s sister Paige, she shies away from physical affection and she closely guards her secrets.  Frankie is an introvert who enjoys her solitude, but when one of her friends needs her, she puts aside her uneasiness with messy emotions to offer support and comfort.  Having successfully avoided relationships, Frankie is hopelessly inept when it comes to flirting and she is horrified by her sudden awareness of Matt.  Although experience tells her relationships are doomed to fail, Frankie tentatively agrees to an “undate” with Matt.  Pleasantly surprised by how much fun they have together, they are soon spending all of their time together, but will Frankie’s fears ruin their chance at happiness?

Matt is incredibly sweet, patient and sympathetic once he understands the reasons Frankie is so cynical about love and marriage. He is certain they belong together and he is willing to give her as much time and space she needs to trust him with her heart.  Matt is surprised by the realization that although he has known her for the most of her life, he still has much to learn about the woman who has captured his heart.  She is surprisingly open with him about her past and while he understands why she is so cautious, Matt does not allow her fears to interfere with their burgeoning romance.  However, just as Frankie is finally making peace with her painful childhood, her insecurities threaten to permanently derail their relationship.

Sunset in Central Park is a wonderful novel of healing, love and friendship.  Frankie has plenty of emotional baggage to deal with and Matt is the perfect person to help her overcome her deep-seated fears.  Eva and Paige are on hand to offer both Matt and Frankie gentle encouragement and sound advice as they traverse the tricky transformation from friends to lovers.  This warm and witty addition to the From Manhattan with Love series is sure to be a hit with old and new fans Sarah Morgan.