I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A Healing Heart
by Melissa A. Hanson
Series: Riverview #1
Series Rating:
Published by Melissa Hanson on February 14th 2012
Genres: YA Romance
Pages: 270
Format: Kindle
Source: the Author
Goodreads
Also in this series: A Healing Spirit
On a bitter cold winter night Bailey 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 newfound 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 Healing Heart by Melissa Hanson has four main things that I noticed were weaved throughout the story, and it was just wonderfully written.
All I got to say is WOW!
Melissa Hanson just gave us a really good book and one, in my opinion, that touched at least four gripping things in my mind. There is a car accident/survivor’s guilt, romance, friendships, and high school. I am going to be giving this book five butterflies because Melissa A. Hanson knows how to make a story so realistic and well-written that you believe that you are there with the characters and are seeing them go through all these different emotions that you can’t help but encourage in your head for the characters to keep going to not give up.
First Gripping Thing
The first gripping thing that Melissa incorporated into her novel is the car accident/survivor’s guilt. The main character that we get introduced to is Bailey, and she has had to deal with the aftermath of the car accident that killed her parents and then slowly killed her younger siblings, which leads to her having survivor’s guilt and not really moving on from the accident. I feel bad for Bailey since she had been dealing with survivor’s guilt for two years before she was able to get over it slowly but surely.
Second Gripping Thing
Ms. Hanson’s second gripping thing that is incorporated into her novel is the romance. Now, this was weaved into it slowly, and it was kind of cool to see it blossom for these two throughout the story. The main romance in the story is between Bailey and Collin. Those two throughout the book made me feel so happy for them, at least until Collin’s friend Savannah came into the picture. That is all I am going to say about that. Collin and Bailey persevered through it and came out stronger than ever by the time Bailey graduated the next year. These two were so adorable.
Third Gripping Thing
The third gripping thing that Melissa incorporated into her novel is the friendships. This is a big thing between Bailey, Natasha, and Mia in the beginning because those three have been friends since Bailey first arrived two years ago. Natasha and Mia were friends a little bit longer, and when Bailey came to Riverview, they took her under their wing. This friendship was the first of many that started to help Bailey recover. Her second friendship happens to be with the little boy that she is babysitting named Riley. Well, not only him but his mom. I think the reason for that is because, with the help of Bailey, Riley’s mom was able to recover from losing Riley’s mom to the war. Plus it gave Riley someone to play with.
Last Gripping Thing
The fourth and last gripping thing that Melissa incorporated into her novel is the high school. To me, and I’m only twenty-two, I feel like high school for any teenager, especially one dealing with survivor’s guilt from being the only one to survive in a car accident, to the romance that you might lose because you are insecure, to the friendships that you have and one that is also a job takes a toll on someone. Even more so when it’s your last year of high school, and you have just a whole lot of stuff to do. I don’t think anyone really realizes the amount of stress you go through with anything during your four years of high school until you go through it.
Five Stars
I think that Melissa A. Hanson has done a wonderful job with this book, and I can’t wait to read the next book and any others that she might put out from the Riverview series. A Healing Heart by Melissa A. Hanson, in my opinion, deserves a five star rating.
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About Melissa A. Hanson
Melissa A. Hanson lives in Southern California with her husband and two sons. Growing up in Southern California, inspiration for the city of “Riverview” is based on her hometown. Melissa enjoys scrapbooking and reading when time permits.
