A Healing Heart Review

AUTHOR: Melissa A. Hanson

PUBLISHER: Melissa Hanson
PUBLICATION DATE: 2/14/2012

PAGES: 262

MY RATING:

 

 BACK COVER SUMMARY: On a bitter cold winter night Baily Walsh's family was killed in a traffic accident. Two years later as she lives with her aunt and uncle in Southern California, Bailey is still plagued by the nightmares of that terrible night. Everywhere around her are reminders of what she lost. Even her aunt, in a cruel twist of fate, is not just her mom's sister, but her identical twin.

Babysitting Riley, a spunky two-year old, is a sweet distraction and one constant light in her life. One day as she takes Riley to the park she meets Collin McKenna, a senior at her high school and her life is changed forever as he helps her find herself and realize her life is worth living.

As the romance between them grows her broken heart begins to heal. However, still nagging in the back of her conscious is the fear that her new found happiness could come crashing down and she could lose everything she loves, yet again.

Outside forces begin to tear them apart and Bailey must learn to trust in herself and realize that she is worthy of happiness. That sometimes love and healing comes in unexpected forms.

A story about first love, life's unexpected tragedies, and the miracles that make it possible to move forward.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: This story is told mostly from Bailey (the main character) point of view with snippets from Collin (the love interest) and Savannah (an antagonist). To me this is a "feel good book" but it also deals with some major hardships. I feel myself struggling through the story just as Bailey does. This was a wonderful book to read and I enjoyed every minute of it.

CHARACTERS: Bailey is such a great character. She has had to overcome so much in the short life that she has lived so far and it has made her so much stronger. I really like Collin as the love interest. He seems like an all around great guy, he can just be a little bit dense sometimes and I feel like he needs a good smack on the head (not that I condone violence) at a couple of points in the story. I adore Riley (the little boy Bailey babysits for) and Lacey (Collins little sister).

COVER: I like it. The scenery ties nicely into an important location in the book and the necklace is also significant to the story line.

*I was provided a copy of this book by Melissa Hanson for review