THE HEART BETWEEN US by LINDSAY HARREL is an inspirational romance with a really good message of reconciliation and restoration.
When Megan Jacobs visits Mandy Abbott's parents and reads the journal written by the young girl whose heart beats in her chest, her life changes direction. Having always wanted to travel, having read travel books and dreamed about traveling as she lay in hospital, she decides, with not a little trepidation, to fulfill Mandy's bucket list. Her best friend, Caleb, who also has had a heart transplant, believes in her and encourages her. She has always dreamed of being a writer, especially a travel writer, and writes a blog about her journey, which becomes very popular.
Megan's twin sister, Crystal, is persuaded by her fireman husband, Brian, to go with Megan and try to mend her relationship with her sister. Crystal is a successful architect who is ambitious and controlling.
As they travel together, the sisters come to understand one another much better.
Relationships are looked at in this story, the most important of which is the one with the Man who truly is in control of our lives, and who watches over us.
I enjoyed the story and the way it was told. I really can recommend this novel.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Every once in a while I get the notion to stay up and read a whole book. It usually surprises me how fast I can get through one when I have no interruptions. Part of the challenge of reading a whole book in one sitting is finding one that is so enthralling I can't put it down. Something told me The Heart Between Us by Lindsay Harrel was going to be a book like that. So, one night while Billy was traveling for work, I put the boys in bed, and got started. Was I right?

The Heart Between Us is the story of twin sisters Megan and Crystal. Megan was diagnosed with a heart problem at a young age. While Megan spent her life in and out of hospitals, Crystal lived her life to the fullest, experiencing all the joys of being a normal teenager, then growing to adulthood. She went to school, traveled off to college, got a degree, got married, got a great job, and seems to have the perfect life. When Megan got a heart transplant, she thought her life would finally change, and she'd be able to do all the things she'd always dreamed about.

But it's been three years, and she's still living with her parents, and working a part-time job. When Megan runs into an old friend from her hospital days, he encourages her to meet her donor's parents. When Megan meets her donor's parents, they give her a journal that contains their daughter's bucket list--twenty-five things she had hoped to accomplish before she died. Megan decides it's time to take a leap out of her comfort zone, and complete the list. The list will take her around the world, to all the places she always dreamed of visiting. When Crystal asks to go along, Megan can't figure out why. But, Crystal has lost her own way, and her life is a mess. She's convinced that repairing her broken relationship with her sister could help her start to fix all of her other problems. The two estranged sisters set out on an epic journey, that could help them both realize their dreams, or lose them forever.

The more I read, the more I see that I cherish relationships in stories. I like to read a good (clean) romance, but I really enjoy stories that are about other relationships, too. Since I have a sister, I do find sister stories to be very relatable. This one was no exception. The dynamic between Megan and Crystal was so interesting, and not really something I'd thought about before. How would it affect one twin if the other was so ill? What would it be like to watch your healthy sibling enjoy life, while you could only watch from the sidelines? This book really made me think about the sister relationship in a new way.

It was amazing to read about all of Megan and Crystal's adventures, too. The book covers so many beautiful scenes, including the Eifel Tower, Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, multiple sites in London, and a lot more! I felt myself cheering for Megan as she checked each item off her list...even though I think she made a bit of a mistake on her way to that last one! One of the best parts of this book is watching Megan learn to really live for the first time, as her donor heart truly becomes her own heart.

The book took a turn that I really never expected. Actually, it took several. I was never able to guess quite what was going on the character's heads, and that made it even better.

When I turned the last (digital) page, I literally said, "Wow." The Heart Between Us is an incredible book. It's deeper than a love story. It's a story about fear, and being stuck. It's a story about losing who you are to pursue something you don't really want. It's a story about the bond between sisters, and how forgiveness changes everything.

I was right about The Heart Between Us. It's totally worth staying up until 2am to read the whole thing!

If you want a copy of The Heart Between Us click here!



I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own, and a favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I almost passed by this book because I was not
Impressed by the title or the cover, but I decided to read the storyline anyway, and I was intrigued! I am so glad I did and that I got the opportunity to read this.

I have a predilection for genres about family, sensitive topics, and storylines that provoke personal thought and reflection, and this fit into each of these categories.

The characters were constructed and presented in such a talented way early on that it was easy to feel their emotion and feel eager to follow them throughout their journeys to see what would happen next. I rooted both Meg and Crystal on, I felt their sadness, their defeat, their courage, their hope, and their love.

The details of the trip were very descriptive and showed that a lot of research was done to be able to capture the ambiance, the food, and the scenery as well as she did. I enjoyed reading about each leg of the trip and it made me want to take a similar trip!

Though there were multiple storylines occurring, they were entwined easily and seamlessly. There were some twists that I wasn’t expecting and just when I realized (and wearily accepted) that it was going to be a happily ever after story, the story changed and surprised me.

This was an easy read, and an enjoyable read, that I started and finished within the same day. I truly liked this book and I am very happy that I read it.

: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
When twin sisters, Megan and Crystal are put on different life paths due to Megan’s illness, requiring a heart transplant after almost 20 years, and Crystal being the healthy, successful one, it can be difficult not to develop unhealthy coping skills. Now in their early 30’s, the sisters join together to travel the world and complete Megan’s teenage heart donor’s bucket list and try to reconnect with each other. It’s an emotional uplifting story for both women who face fears and emotions long dormant. I am grateful for the opportunity to read this story. I really enjoyed it.

When I read the description of this book, I thought it sounded like such a great concept. Turns out it was so much more than I had hoped for. I adored this book so much, it just might be one everyone gets from me this year!

This is a story about two sisters—twins—who are at different but the same place in life. They’ve grown apart but when Megan decides to embark on a trip in order to fulfill her heart donor’s bucket list, her sister decides to join her.

There are so many feels in this book. Between Amanda’s (the young woman who lost her life but gave Megan a heart) experiences through journal entries, Megan’s discovery of who she is post-surgery, and Crystal’s own revelations, you just may need to keep a few tissues handy.

But oh, the healing that takes place in this book. The life these two sisters have yet to live, and the fabulous places they visit (the pyramids, the Great Wall, London, Paris, and more) are all so well crafted by Lindsay Harrel, readers are taken along on a ride they won’t soon forget.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

I thought it was interesting that Megan whom was unable to perform most life long goals during twenty years of time opted to do so on a bucket list created by her heart donor. Before of her limited life scope, her mentality and emotional capacity seemed far more in line with the young donor. At first sight, Crystal was tough to like but as she softened and re-prioritized, she became far more likeable. A great read.

Megan and Crystal Jacobs are twins. The only children in their family. So how can it be that Crystal is healthy and has a wonderful life, and Megan had to wait years for a new heart to be anywhere near healthy.
Maybe one of the best things that came out of all those hospital stays was meeting Caleb Watkins. He too needed a new heart, and finally got one, leaving Megan behind to wait for hers. The dreams they both discussed with each other over the years , Caleb wanted to be a Photographer and Megan would write about the photographs Caleb took.
Instead, Caleb went on to become what he wanted and Megan was still working in the Library she had been at since finishing school. She hadn’t seen or spoken to Caleb for a year, but she was going to put everything back to rights, tonight, at the Fundraiser.
Another thing she had to do was contact her donor’s family, she had been putting it off, just like she had Caleb, it was time to get her life back in order.
Megan’s sister Crystal has some issues she knew she had to finally address, her job first and marriage second. Even though she loved her husband Brian dearly, the prospect of career advancement as a senior architect was looming just out of reach and if she could just convince everyone she was the right fit and get that promotion then she could work on her and Brian’s marriage.
After meeting with her donor’s family, and getting an all clear result from her physician, Megan decided to act on a list that was in Amanda’s journal. Her Bucket List. She would Travel and write a Blog on her adventures, she knows she has to convince her parents that she is okay to do this, so when her sister Crystal suggests she accompany her on her trip, Megan sees this a way to maybe get her relationship with her sister back on track also.
This is a beautiful story of family, love, heartache, discovery, redemption and so much more and will leave you with a feeling of hope at the end.
Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson – Fiction for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an advanced read in exchange for this review.

Megan has a twin sister, Crystal. Megan has spent her entire life in and out of hospitals. She receives a heart transplant, a gift of life. The parents of the donor give Megan their daughter's unfinished bucket list. Megan embarks on a journey to restart her life as a healthy person, and her twin joins her so they can repair their relationship.

All and all, this is a touching story. There are a couple of things that I did not like - sometimes the POV switches were a little confusing. Also, the reasons for the sisters' tension filled relationship seemed kind of petty and juvenile. Still a good read though!

This story touched me very deeply. The relationship between Crystal and Megan was almost inexistent, and they really needed each other.
The character development is beautifully done. I loved how travel was used partly as self-discovery, and how both the sisters needed to take a long, hard look at themselves and make some changes.
The characters' inner journey is even more important than the actual journey they went on, and I am so thankful I was able to go with them on both!

The Heart Between Us is a beautifully written book. A story of sisters, a bucket list and courage will tug at your heart.

I really enjoyed this book. I think take the story of two sisters, set apart by time, illness and work load and really put them together and it just makes for good story.
The writing is superb, and really pulls you into the story, making you journey with the two sisters, each told from their point of view.
It reminded me of Katherine Reay's books a bit or maybe even Hilary Lodge's writing. I just wanted to savor the book, but at the same time, I wanted to finish the story. While there is a hint of romance, that is not the focus of this book.
This book is more on forgiveness, communication and finding what is truly important to you, beyond your work, your health even or where you live. It is about relationship and communication the most, was what I saw.
I cannot wait to read more of what this author has to give us in the future!

Megan and Crystal are twins who trying to find a way back to being close. Megan has had serious health issues and needed a heart transplant. Megan decides she wants to meet the family of the person who gave her her heart. When she goes to meet Amanda's family she finds out she had a bucket list. Megan decides to visit all the places on Amanda's bucket list. When her twin, Crystal finds out what she is doing she decides to go with her. Throughout their journey around the world, Megan and Crystal learn how to open up to each other and start to repair their relationship. I really enjoyed this book!
Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson was a copy of this book!

A light, cozy read about twin sisters, one of whom is a heart transplant patient, travelling the world together to complete a bucket list that the heart donor left behind. Along the way they make discoveries about themselves and relationships begin to heal, most importantly the fractured one between the two sisters. And in doing this, they begin to heal the hurt that has occurred through their lives, face their fears, and discover that God has always been there for them.

The premise of this book was very intriguing but mostly what caught my eye was the whole travelling around the world to complete a bucket list. It was nice to see the characters doing those things that everyone dreams of doing, however this was the part of the book that I felt was underdeveloped. The characters spend only a few pages in some places and very little of the countries are actually described. Even though the book is already 336 pages, I felt like it could have been longer to accommodate more of the travelling and it would have been an extremely enjoyable read rather than one that left me wanting just a little bit more. But overall, this is a unique novel that is perfect to escape with for a few hours.

I started reading this book when I was looking for a light, contemporary read and this supplied exactly what I was looking for. It is Christian fiction which I enjoy reading but I was very happy to see that it wasn't too preachy and that the faith part of it didn't completely take over. I think even readers who aren't religious will enjoy this as a contemporary read and that the subtle message there will resonate with readers of all walks of life.

You don't have to be a twin to relate to this story of two women- Megan and Crystal- who have been separated by Megan's health problems which overwhelmed their childhood and adolescence. Anyone who has had- or been- the sibling of a kid with medical or other problems can relate to one of these two. Harrel has written a story which focuses on the two of them completing the bucket list of Amanda, her heart donor. It's really about more than that, of course. There's a little love, a lot of faith, and a pretty good, if sometimes a tad slow, story here. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I am always excited when I finish reading a terrific book by an author who is unfamiliar to me.

Lindsay Harrel is that author, and “The Heart Between Us” is that book.

There’s a somewhat unusual storyline: A heart transplant recipient decides to fulfill the heart donor’s bucket list. That plot would seem to make this a heartbreaking storyline. It’s the exact opposite: A heartwarming book that’s filled with courage, adventure, hope, faith, and love. As twin sisters Megan and Crystal check the items off the list, they each learn how to celebrate the opportunities that God brings into their lives. Make sure you have a box of tissues nearby as you finish this touching story. The ending to this book was perfect.

I’m already looking forward to another book from Lindsay Harrel.

I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review. This is my honest opinion about the book.

I just finished this book and it's midnight. I couldn't put it down until I finished. This story is a poignant look at family, and priorities. What is the most important thing in life? Two sisters embark on a trip of a lifetime to figure this out. A romantic tale of finding love, re-claiming love and offering forgiveness. I definitely recommend this book because it shows hope in overcoming hardships in relationships.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

It’s been a while since I read a book as inspiring as this one. Because, let’s face it, 2018 hasn’t been a very good reading year for me so far. I’ve been struggling with a reading slump as well as a serious lack of motivation. So maybe it was fate that I would come across such a wonderful little story. It was exactly what I needed right now, and I didn’t even know it.

The story follows sisters Megan and Crystal on a trip across the world. As they mend their relationship and search for inspiration. Megan has recovered from her heart transplant surgery. And though she is healthy now, her illness has undermined her confidence and filled her with so much fear, she is unable to create a life for herself.

On the other side Crystal has a seemingly perfect life, complete with a loving husband and a promising career. But her focus on her job has led her to neglect her relationships, to the point she no longer enjoys what she does.

This book covers topics such as depression and fear, but also love and beauty. And at the same time, balances everything so well that the reader never feels overwhelmed. I found that especially soothing. There is a lot of talk about finding motivation in life and overcoming the usual fears of failure when pursuing personal dreams. As someone who struggles with that sort of thing almost every day, it meant a lot to see someone put it into words.

There were some things that bugged me a bit. Like the lack of more extensive descriptions for each of the cities the sisters visited, and the ocasional cliché. But mostly it was a win for me.

I think what’s most remarkable about it, beyond the story and characters, it’s that it works as a bit of an invitation, to pursue dreams and live as fully as it can be done. And that is something I definitely needed in my life.

I’d like to thank NetGalley for providing this ARC.

Sweet love story about two heart transplant recipients and their lives.

"The Heart Between Us" is a heartwarming novel about two sisters as they embark on a journey around the world. Megan and Crystal couldn't be more opposite. While growing up, Megan had a weak heart and spent much of her time in and out of hospitals, desperately awaiting a heart transplant, while her twin sister, Crystal, led an active and more traditional life of a teenager. This caused friction between the sisters, who eventually started to grow apart as Crystal moved away to pursue college and a future career as an architect. Once Megan finally received a heart transplant, she found herself somewhat in a rut. The fear of her pushing her new heart caused her to stay where she was in life. That is, until she was encouraged to visit her heart donor's family. There, she learned about the young girl that lost her life much too soon. Her family shared with Megan a bucket list that the young girl had made, a list of dreams she had hoped to complete during her lifetime. This is where the story begins, as Megan takes it upon herself to complete the list and fulfill the bucket list of the girl that had given her another chance at life. Accompanied by her sister, they travel the world, checking things off the list one by one, as they attempt to mend their fragile relationship.
I found this story to be entertaining and the characters easy to relate to. You can't help but root for them both as they make their journey across the world and realize that there is more to each other than meets the eye. This inspirational story is one that I enjoyed reading and it was one I wasn't quite ready to end. Not every book has the ability to stay with you long after the last page has been read and this one definitely has. I look forward to reading more by Lindsay Harrel in the future!
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication in exchange for an honest review!