CFBA: A Heart to Heal

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing A Heart to Heal Love Inspired (July 15, 2014) by Allie Pleiter

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Enthusiastic but slightly untidy mother of two, Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and nonfiction. An avid knitter, harp player and non-reformed chocoholic, she spends her days writing books, doing laundry, running carpools and finding new ways to avoid housework. Allie grew up in Connecticut, holds a BS in speech from Northwestern University and currently lives in suburban Chicago, Illinois. The "dare from a friend" to begin writing eight years ago has blossomed into a career that includes numerous public speaking engagements, two books on parenting; Becoming a Chief Home Officer and Facing Every Mom's Fears and now novels for Steeple Hill Books. She is the mother of two children and, most recently, a Havanese dog named Bella.


ABOUT THE BOOK

The Courage To Hope.

Guidance counselor Heather Browning is desperate. She needs a mentor to help Simon, a disabled student who is struggling at Gordon Falls High School. Unfortunately, hotshot Max Jones is her only option. Confrontational and cavalier, Max uses his flashy persona to hide the bitterness he's felt since his life-changing accident. Perpetually cautious, Heather finds Max's bad-boy bravado as intriguing as it is infuriating. But as Heather and Max work together to build Simon's self-confidence, they begin to trust each other. Max has never been slow and careful with anything. Can he be gentle with Heather's heart?

Gordon Falls: Hearts ablaze in a small town.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of A Heart to Heal, go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS
I thought the topic of this book was great.  I think this is the first book I've ever read with such a topic, so that in itself was quite refreshing.

This may be a small book, but it has a lot packed into it.  Bitterness, love, hope....it's difficult to have hope when bitterness takes center stage, and it's difficult to break down the barriers that bitterness builds, but this story shows that all of that can happen and more when you open your heart, learn to step a bit outside of your boundaries, and trust.

The characters were all easy to like, even the most difficult characters had reason for being so, ok...maybe 1 or 2 characters weren't so likeable, but what's a book without a few villains?

A very heartwarming read, very enjoyable...a quick read with a though provoking theme.


**I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for review from CFBA