The Heart Between Us by Lindsay Harrel – Book Review, Interview, and Giveaway!

Welcome! I have a packed blog post for you today!

I first discovered “The Heart Between Us” by Lindsay Harrel via social media. There was chatter about the release of this new book in the reading groups online and I had tucked this book away in the back of my mind. I’ll be honest, I hadn’t planned on purchasing it because there are just so many great books to read.

Until I walked into a mom and pop bookstore and found THREE copies of Lindsay’s NEWLY RELEASED book on the shelves at only $5. Yes, that’s right. A paperback copy hot off the press at only $5! So I snatched up a copy and wasn’t disappointed when I started reading.

Here’s the book blurb:

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.

Here’s my review:

As a person who used to live overseas, I was first drawn in by the beautiful cover depicting places I’d love to visit. I loved Crystal and Megan’s story and the obstacles they had to overcome in order to restore their relationship.When Megan decides to complete a bucket list of places to visit overseas, the adventure began and the pages turned quickly. Don’t we all have a list of places we’d love to travel overseas? You’ll walk right alongside Megan and Crystal as they do crazy things while suffering through the awkwardness of relational tension.

This story is beautifully written. You will laugh and cry along with the sisters as you journey with them around the world. And as a former traveler, I found some of Lindsay’s overseas “disasters” similar to my experiences. Ugh! Taxi drivers!

You won’t be disappointed as you read this story. I found out after reading this that Crystal’s viewpoint wasn’t included in the original draft. I’m so glad Lindsay was encouraged to include her story as it was my favorite!

Lindsay graciously agreed to an interview:

1. I read in another interview that your agent wanted you to write Crystal’s story. I loved her story the most! How did you decide to build her as a character? That’s right, my agent first suggested that I dig a little deeper with Crystal’s character and figure out what made her tick—because originally, I’d intended to merely make her the antagonist to Megan’s journey. When I started digging, I discovered that Crystal had been shaped by Megan’s lifelong illness just like Megan had, only in different ways. I asked myself questions like, How would it feel to be the healthy twin sister? What kind of emotions would you feel? Guilt? Relief? Even jealousy in some ways because of all the attention Megan garnered? Then shame for feeling that jealousy? Crystal became more than the two-dimensional character I’d originally imagined her as. I drew from my own experiences with having a sick family member (my mom had cancer for much of my growing up) and infused those into Crystal’s character. In the end, I related the most with her. 2. Why did you choose third person POV for this book instead of first? Since this book deals with journals and blogging I might have expected the book to be in 1st person (loved it in third!) You know, I love to write in first person, which is partially why I included the journal entries and blog posts. I thought having all of it in first person might take away from those parts, though, and I wanted them to stand out. 3. How long does it take you to complete a first draft? Since you are a busy mom how do you find time to write? I can usually bang out a scene (1500-2000 words) in two hours if I know what I’m going to write ahead of time. Two hours is how long my kiddos’ nap time is! So that works well for me when I’m drafting a book. Technically, I can finish drafting a book in about 55-60 work sessions, but I juggle other things like marketing, brainstorming, and freelance editing, so it’s never a straight 55-60 days. All that said, it usually takes me about 9 months from brainstorming to getting a book to my editor for the first time.

Time for the giveaway! Enter below to win a free copy (US addresses only) of Lindsay Harrel’s book “A Heart Between Us.”

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