3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Story!, October 31, 2011
This review is from: Whispers from the Heart: A Novel (Journals from the Heart) (Kindle Edition)
What would you do if you found yourself in an emotionally abusive relationship? Would you stick it out, or would you leave the relationship and start over? What if your spirit was so broken that you vowed never to fall in love again? Could you listen to the whispers from your heart and learn to heal and start living your life again? These are the questions that Madison Ragnar faced ... come along on her journey of healing and self-discovery ... let Whispers From The Heart show you the way ...
Madison Ragnar is in an emotionally abusive relationship with her boyfriend Rick. She makes the decision to leave him and the relationship behind. She leaves the home that they've shared in Carbondale, Colorado, and drives cross-country to Charlottesville, Virginia, where a new life and job as a ninth grade English teacher awaits her. Fast forward three years, Madison still has nightmares about her ex-boyfriend, and questions if he would ever find her. She has vowed to never fall in love again, and has stuck to that plan. Madison fills her days with teaching her high school students how to write a journal and to embrace reading To Kill A Mockingbird. Outside of the school environment, she works out at a gym and runs with her best friend, Olivia. She leads a solitary life ... that is until two men, Michael and Phil, come into her life in unexpected ways. The interactions with Michael and Phil, along with the tragic death of one of her students, has Madison questioning her life, and whether she should listen to the whispers from her heart ... and learn to trust herself and love again.
I absolutely loved Whispers From The Heart! The storyline is captivating, it had me enthralled from the start. I went along with Madison on her emotional journey of healing and self-discovery, and I held on while the roller coaster ride of emotions swept over me. This is a very thoughtful and beautifully written book that will tug at your heart strings. The characters are so engaging, you can't help but feel like you could step into the story and be friends with them. Madison's journey is one that is filled with all the emotions: sadness, fear, uncertainty, hope, healing and finally love. Author Heather Hummel has given the reader so much in this heartfelt book ... but the most important message she gives to her readers are truly lessons to be learned: find the light in your eyes and soul, believe in your convictions and most of all ... follow your heart!
Whispers From The Heart is the first novel in the Journal from the Heart series. The second novel, Write From The Heart is currently available, and the third novel in the series, Wisdom From The Heart will be released in early 2012.
RATING: 5 STARS *****
Disclaimer: At the request of the author, a Kindle edition of this book was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest review.
Virtual Book Tour Event: On Monday, October 31, 2011, in association with Chick Lit Plus, Heather Hummel participated in a virtual book tour event with an Author Interview on Jersey Girl Book Reviews.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beautifully written!, October 27, 2011
This review is from: Whispers from the Heart: A Novel (Journals from the Heart) (Kindle Edition)
I have to admit that this is a hard review for me to write up. I have started and re-started it numerous times over the last couple of days. There is so much I want to say and yet have to be very careful what I am saying so as not to spoil the book."Go read this book" doesn't do it the justice it deserves. Heather Hummel has wrote such a heartfelt and touching book. Madison Ragnar was such an intriguing character. One of those that made you want to hug her and tell her it is going to be okay.
I really loved that Madison's past was not delved too deeply into, just enough to let you know that there was a bad relationship and that Madison wasn't willing to put her heart into another situation where she could get hurt. I admit that I was very leery of Michael's presence and each time he showed up I kept waiting for a big bombshell. When it was finally revealed I have to honestly say I never expected it. And Phil...where in real life is a man like him? Because I am calling dibs on him! The swerve of the love story was handled so rationally. I don't know if I could have handled it that way, but I liked it.
The death of the student was handled delicately and it was heartbreaking. It showed so much strength in Madison to keep herself in control and not fall apart in front of the children in the classroom.
If you want a book that is going to pull at your heart in numerous directions, this is the book for you. I cried, I cheered for Madison to find herself, and I smiled as she learned to trust herself to love again. This is the first of a trilogy and I'm anxious to read the next book and find what Heather has in store for her readers.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Relaxing evening reading, December 31, 2011
This review is from: Whispers from the Heart: A Novel (Journals from the Heart) (Kindle Edition)
Enjoyed reading a lovely story set in my hometown. The story realistically painted a picture of life for a single woman here. Was a relaxing pleasant read.
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