The Heart Between Us by Lindsay Harrel

As promised last week, today I'm bringing you my review for Lindsay Harrel's second book, The Heart Between Us.

I received an early e-copy from NetGalley, but a positive review was not required.

Heart by the Bucketful

This is Lindsay Harrel's second book, and it's becoming evident to me that her trademark is going to be incredibly deep character journeys. This book, as the title suggests, is full of heart. From beginning to end, the passion for life and figuring out one's faith and laying down one's fears make this journey one worth taking... several times. The fact that communication being key to relationships was featured made me smile and fall in love with this book even more. I've been saying for years that communication is crucial for any relationship to be successful, and it's wonderful when that outlook is emphasized and even featured in a fictional book.

Another fantastic aspect to this story is all the travel. From Rome to Australia to Greece to Peru -- not to mention a couple of stops in the good ol' U.S. of A. -- this book came alive with atmosphere, culture, and adventure. I really should get a passport and save up some money for international traveling, because Ms. Harrel made each location seem like the ideal vacation spot.

There are two reasons why this book only got four instead of five stars from me. Number one: God was called "the Big Guy" once, and I have always believed that this is an irreverent and too-casual way of referring to Him. Number two: There was an entire chapter devoted to skinny-dipping, and it was a "modest" character that was participating. It seemed out of character for her and the genre of Christian fiction. Were those two things done differently, this would have easily been a five-star read for me.

I don't know what else Lindsay Harrel has on her writing schedule, but I know this: She is a must-read author. She brings a ton of heart, deep character journeys, and loads of hope to her stories. I can hardly wait to see what adventure she'll take me on next time.

Content:
* bikini swimsuit
* skinny-dipping
* sexual abuse (handled off-screen and with grace)
* alcohol; pubs

I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, authors, and sites like Netgalley, Litfuse Publicity Group, and Blogging for Books. They do not require me to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.


About The Heart Between Us:

Megan Jacobs always wished for a different heart. Her entire childhood was spent in and out of hospitals, sitting on the sidelines while her twin sister Crystal played all the sports, got all the guys, and had all the fun. But even a heart transplant three years ago wasn’t enough to propel Megan’s life forward. She’s still working as a library aide in her small Minnesota hometown and living with her parents, dreaming of the adventure she plans to take “once she’s well enough.” Meanwhile, her sister is a successful architect with a handsome husband and the perfect life—or so Megan thinks.

When her heart donor’s parents give Megan their teenage daughter’s journal—complete with an unfulfilled bucket list—Megan connects with the girl she meets between the pages and is inspired to venture out and check off each item. Caleb—a friend from her years in and out of the hospital—reenters her life and pushes her to find the courage to take the leap and begin her journey. She’s thrown for a loop when Crystal offers to join her for reasons of her own, but she welcomes the company and the opportunity to mend their tenuous relationship.

As Megan and Crystal check items off the bucket list, Megan fights the fears that have been instilled in her after a lifetime of illness. She must choose between safety and adventure and learn to embrace the heart she’s been given so that she can finally share it with the people she loves most.


About Lindsay Harrel:

Lindsay Harrel

Lindsay Harrel is a lifelong book nerd with a B.A. in journalism and M.A. in English. She lives in Arizona with her young family and two golden retrievers in serious need of training. Lindsay has held a variety of jobs, including curriculum editor for two universities, medical and business writer, and copywriter for a digital marketing agency. Now she juggles stay-at-home mommyhood with working freelance jobs, teaching college English courses online, and—of course—writing novels. 

When she actually has time to do other things, she loves to sing, read, and sip passion iced teas from Starbucks. She loves to watch God work in ordinary lives to create something extraordinary, and she writes to bring hope to those who may have lost it along the way. Connect with her at www.LindsayHarrel.com and any other place she hangs out online, including Facebook and Twitter. 

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February's reading challenge is All About Love.