A Heart Full of Miracles [Mass Market Paperback]

Stephanie Mittman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 12, 2000

A Heart Full Of Joy

Abby Merganser believes in rainbows and happy endings. The daughter of the town minister, she is a source of sunshine and laughter for the citizens of Eden's Grove. But there is one thing Abby wants more than anything in the world: the love of Dr. Seth Hendon. Abby has been in love with Seth for as long as she can remember. But he still thinks of her as his little sister's best friend. Clearly, Seth doesn't know what's good for him. So Abby vows to prove she's the perfect prescription. Even if it means making him jealous enough to propose. After all, she's tried everything else. Cooking for him. Managing his life--even when he complains that she's driving him crazy.

A Heart Full Of Sadness
Dr. Seth Hendon has had it with being a doctor. Weary and dispirited after losing a couple of his patients, including his own beloved sister, Seth is ready to sell his practice and leave medicine--and Abby--behind. She's too tempting, too full of life for a dedicated bachelor like himself. But Seth hadn't reckoned on Abby's determination to show him where his heart belongs--with her. No sooner have they set the wedding date than a shocking tragedy occurs, leaving Seth, and the whole town, praying for a miracle....

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

For local doctor Seth Hendon, Eden's Grove couldn't be further from paradise. Dispirited after losing his beloved sister, Sarrie, to a long illness, Seth plans to leave town--and his late sister's best friend, that pesky and preternaturally perky Abby Merganser--as soon as a new doctor can be found. But Abby Merganser is having none of it! She has loved the dour Seth all her life and now she just has to convince him that he loves her, too. But Seth is loath to abandon his precious bachelorhood, especially to the pushy Abby and the rest of her flighty family. Besides, Abby is much too young for him. Isn't she? When the irresistible force that is Abby Merganser meets the immovable Dr. Hendon, the good doctor is in for the ride of his life. Isn't he? Or will tragedy strike again, just when the last of Seth's walls come tumbling down in the face of Abby's immutable love. With her trademark humor and talent for creating quirky, lovable characters, Stephanie Mittman continues her string of hits with A Heart Full of Miracles. --Alison Trinkle

Review

"Mittman's characters walk right off the page and straight into your heart."
-- Booklist

"Stephanie Mittman has the gift for touching readers' hearts."
-- Romantic Times

"Stephanie Mittman might very well become the standard against which all future Americana romance is judged!"
-- Affaire de Couer

Don't miss these other romances by Stephanie Mittman
Head Over Heels
A Kiss To Dream On
The Courtship
The Marriage Bed
Available from Dell

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Dell (September 12, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440225566
• ISBN-13: 978-0440225560
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,152,814 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A WONDERFUL STORY!, November 25, 2000

By 

Romance-reader "romance-reader" - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Heart Full of Miracles (Mass Market Paperback)

The best reading choices, I find, are those I buy on impluse. The reason I picked this book was the intriguing blurb on the back cover. I'd just been through a spate of regency historicals and thought this would be a nice change. Glad I did!

Abby and Seth, the main characters, are are so thoroughly developed and empathetic. Their relationship has the closeness borne of a shared sorrow (death of a dear friend and a beloved sister) and the distancing of a love, long unexpressed. You feel the emotions so profoundly as these two struggle through the up and downs of the relationship. Adding to the poignancy are the secondary stories. As is true of most small towns, the inhabitants of Eden's Cove have a shared history. I enjoyed what made this small town interesting and close knit.The storyline doesn't get bogged down in pathos.There is enough gentle humor to add balance. Overall its a wonderful story of faith, hope and love.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming, September 13, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Heart Full of Miracles (Mass Market Paperback)

In the latter half of the nineteenth century in Eden's Grove, Iowa, optimist Abby Merganser seems to always obtain her goals in spite of being the looniest of a loony family. Currently, Abby works at the Weekly Herald, but her strategic objective is to marry the man she loves, Dr. Seth Hendon. However, Seth sees Abby as a close friend of his younger sister.

As part of her campaign, Abby begins to show up everywhere that Seth goes including his office. Seth continues to reject her. He is bone tired after losing a few patients. Seth not only is thinking of quitting the medical profession, but of simply leaving town. Still, the persistent Abby refuses to allow her soul mate to retire from life.

A HEART FULL OF MIRACLES is a wonderful Americana romance that vividly brings alive a piece of our heritage. The exciting story line works because the authentic tidbits are fully interwoven into the plot. The lead characters are a charming pair of opposites as Abby is full of life's vigor while Seth struggles with depression. As she has done with her previous novels like THE COURTSHIP and A KISS TO DREAM ON, Stephanie Mittman makes nineteenth century America a one-sitting affair.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun to read!, August 28, 2004

By 

a-wish-upon-a-star (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Heart Full of Miracles (Mass Market Paperback)

Abby Merganser is determined to marry Dr. Seth Hendon. Unfortunately, Seth seems a little . . . shall we say less than enthusiastic to the idea?

This a really good story. It starts off with a bang - funny, interesting, lots of authentic, historical detail - which is always a plus for me. The characters are funny, the story is fast-paced and heartwarming.

I did not enjoy it, however, and I'll explain why. This story deals - at length - with two people who have long term chronic, and potentially fatal illnesses. Having just lost two close family members after a very long and painful illness, I found this book simply too sad, it brought up so many bad memories, and I found those parts of the book painful to read.

So, this is my synopsis - this is a fun, fast-paced book, with a heartwarming ending - however, if this kind of story (long term chronic illness) will bring up bad memories for you, you may want to skip it.