Hallie's Heart [Paperback]

Shelly Beach (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 12, 2007

An eccentric antique dealer and her fifteen-year-old niece struggle to find healing in this Mitford-type novel. Guaranteed fiction!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

In the small town of Stewartville, Michigan, Mona is struggling to keep her antique shop alive. But with bills piling high and a checkbook balance falling to negative numbers, Mona is ready to consider hiding from the world.
 
Imagine her surprise when she discovers her fifteen-year-old niece, Hallie, has done that very thing—at Mona’s beach house! Guilt-ridden, Hallie flees to her aunt’s summer house, seeking shelter from her parents and her past.

Problems with the antique shop fade into the background as Mona and Hallie face the pain and memories of the unfortunate accident on the beach that changed both of their lives. Mona has little time to find a way into Hallie’s heart before her parents return to take her home. But not before an attractive furniture designer bestows a mysterious gift and Mona is forced to confront her need to forgive others in her own painful past.

Shelly Beach is a Christian communicator who speaks at women’s conferences, retreats, seminars, and writers’ conferences. She is a college instructor and writing consultant in Michigan and the author of Precious Lord, Take My Hand (Discovery House Publishers 2007).

About the Author

Shelly Beach is a Christian communicator who speaks at women's conferences, retreats, seminars, and writers' conferences. She is a college instructor and writing consultant in Michigan and the author of Precious Lord, Take My Hand (Discovery House Publishers 2007).

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Kregel Publications (January 12, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0825424364
• ISBN-13: 978-0825424366
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,309,873 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fresh fiction, January 22, 2007

By 

Katrina M. De Man "lover of a good read" (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hallie's Heart (Paperback)

This first novel by Beach is filled with fresh characters and events and details. Beach tells a serious tale with a winsome touch of humor. When I finished the book, I hugged my oldest son who just happened to be walking through the room. The good and courageous relationships in this book left me wanting more of that in my own life. And Beach better start writing--I believe there's more of Mona and Hallie's story to be told. I'm left ready to read it!

3.0 out of 5 stars Hallie's Heart, November 21, 2011

By 

Lollipops "lollipops5" (Arkansas) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Hallie's Heart (Paperback)

MoNa VanderMolen owns a struggling antique store and most weekends find her out scouting for rare finds. Life isn't easy in the antique business. She discovers that dealers often outbid her at auctions. Now, someone has offered to buy her out. But Mona's a fighter and she will survive--she hopes.

When Mona goes to her beach house to escape from some problems she is shocked to discover her fifteen year old niece, Hallie, already there. Mona and Hallie's relationship was shattered over a year ago when Hallie's mother blames Mona for something and refuses to allow Hallie and Mona to see each other. But now Hallie is trying to teach her mom a lesson--but Mona wants to try to break down the barriers and win her nieces love and trust again. Is that possible? Or will the earlier tragedy destroy the family relationship for good?

HALLIE'S HEART is Ms. Beach's debut novel--though I'm not really sure why I received it in the fall of 2011 to review...four years after it's release. Looking on Amazon I see Ms. Beach has had other books released since then. But they appear to be nonfiction. I've never read any of her books.

Mona and Hallie are both realistically developed. I loved the beach setting on Lake Michigan. Some of the dream sequences were a little hard to follow, and the story did drag in spots. But all in all, it was a nice read.

5.0 out of 5 stars From the Heart, July 21, 2010

By 

Library Lady - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hallie's Heart (Paperback)

In Hallie's heart, character Mona shared a strong personality and very strong faith in God. She didn't always trust God, but through the book she began to forgive and sought that same forgiveness for her niece. It was tough going to crack through the hard shell of Hallie, but much forgiveness prevailed. Strong friendships throughout the story and a softness from Ellen was meaningful to Mona. Highly recommended for church libraries. I read the book in large print which is nice as an option.