CFBA Tour for 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-Well, I fell totally in love with this story. Did not expect to and didn't see it coming but I sat down to start it and ended up burning midnight oil to get it finished. I was thrown into the middle of a series(haven't read the other three) but I felt like I landed with a group of friends. The book opens with a high school guidance counselor and a principal debating the wisdom of a certain plan put into effect. This said plan involves hiring a mentor for a student in class. Specifically a student in a wheelchair who is being bullied because of his chair. The problem isn't in getting a mentor, but the worry comes over who the mentor is. Max Jones, who also has a wheelchair, but he happens to be well known around town for being a daredevil and somewhat of a jerk. So counselor Heather isn't sure that Max is a good role model for Simon.

The first thing that drew me in was Max and his sarcasm. He is seriously funny!! (Play on words there:) But he uses the whit and sarcasm to hide his regrets and fears. Who he is underneath is not what you really see. And that is what most people don't get. Heather at first doesn't like him. She sees only the outer shell and his pride, arrogance and desire to play it loose. I am sure we all know someone just like him. They are tough on the exterior but once you crack that shell you see a different person. And as much as Heather doesn't want to get involved with him because of things in her past, she sees a sweet and tender side to him that has her falling for him.

I loved how the characters developed and some of my favorite parts were with Simon. Of course, who wouldn't love the parts were Max takes her dancing:D Gonna leave you guessing on that one so you have to pick up your own copy and read it. I urge you to purchase this one. Loved it from beginning to end and wish there was more!!




**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given, and all thoughts are 100% mine. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**