Thank you to Netgalley and Bailey Brown Publishing for this ARC.

Wake My Heart is a novel about loss, hope, bravery, friendship, and love. This book was heart-wrenching in places, and I really enjoyed reading. If you enjoy emotional reads, then follow Maggie and Ryan's story. I will definitely be reading the Jasper Falls series as they come out.

Such a heart breaking story as we see a widow grief the love of her life. We see how she struggles to live her life without him. I cried. But this book was something I needed to read.

I really wanted to enjoy this book but I just didn’t. I found a few of the things the MMC did and said a bit insensitive and I didn’t see much chemistry between the two MCs. The FMC was also really annoying which sometimes I don’t mind but in this book it fell flat.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an E-ARC to read and review.

"Wake My Heart" was quite an emotional read for me. Hence why it took me such a long time to get around to it. I really like the way grief was approached in this book. And how Ryan and Maggie's relationship developed over time. I felt like I was grieving alongside with Maggie.

Excellent writing, but there were a few tropes I wasn't a fan of and some plot choices I questioned. It felt a little insta-lovey towards the beginning. The MCs were just barely talking about being friends when suddenly they jump to dating?? And then the FMC breaks things off. Didn't like how this went. I also felt like the author tried to pull of the whole "she's-not-like-other-girls" trope, which elicited quite the eye-roll from me. Otherwise, I felt like everything else was great.

This was such a cute read! I had never heard of Lydia Michael’s but found the synopsis intriguing. I really enjoyed this romance novel. It was clean, easy to read, and had a lot of emotions involved. I liked that the character did not immediately jump into a relationship with Ryan and the author focused on her emotions and feelings surrounding the death of her husband. For anyone who likes emotional reads this is for you! I received this as an ARC from Bailey Brown Publishing and Netgalley.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

What a heart wrenching story and one of loss and new found love. Maggie lost the love of her life and two years later she is still working through her grief.

In moves Ryan next door and he opens up all kinds of possibilities for Maggie but can she work through her heart ache to believe she can love again?

Great read!

Maggie O'Malley is dealing with grief over losing her husband in a car accident until an unsuspecting neighbor moves in next door and begins tearing down the walls around her heart.

Maggie has hidden herself away from the world and everyone around her for 2 years. Her sister Perrin keeps telling her to talk to someone to help get her through her grief. As the book progresses Maggie works through all of the things she is holding on to from her late husband Nash.

Ryan has a large family and is related to most of the people in their small town. He is excited when he buys his own home across town from his family. He is intrigued to find out that a beautiful woman lives across the street from him and he wants to learn more about her.

The two neighbors build a great relationship together.

This was such a sweet and fun read. I loved the way that the relationship between Maggie and Ryan evolved through the book, it was very realistic. I loved that Ryan was so patient with Maggie and didn't force her the go any faster with things until she was ready.

Trope- Small town romance, Forced Proximity (since they are neighbors)

TW- Loss Grief

Spice level - 1

Wake My Heart was an emotional tale of loss, hope, friendship and love. This adult romance was an emotional powerhouse set in a heartwarming small town setting. This was my first book by Lydia Michaels, and once I finished that last page I went and added her other books to my tbr! She's an author who I'm looking forward to reading more of in the future!

Everyone was so concerned about her progress and closure, as if it were that easy.
Didn’t they know her heart had been ripped to shreds? Sometimes things were too messy to simply close.


Maggie O’Malley had lost her husband in a car accident two years ago. And was still drowning in her grief. She visited his grave-site every morning, tried her best to push those she loved away, and was struggling to survive each day that she was still alive. The sorrow that seeped out of her was so intense and I kept my fingers crossed she would get some counseling or help. Because she desperately needed it. So when she met her new neighbor, Ryan Clooney, she was cold and short with him. He was just trying to help her, but she wanted no part of it. Yet there was something special about Ryan, and his arrival marked the beginning of Maggie's life starting to change.

"But I'm not. When Nash died, I died with him.”
“That’s not true.”
“You don’t know me enough to argue otherwise.”
She was right, but Nash was dead and she was very much still alive.


Maggie was such a multi-faceted character. Her depression was consuming. Her life choices made me want to shake her throughout this story. Yet even though I struggled with her a lot, I loved Maggie. I wanted her to find happiness. I wanted her to be able to live again. Because she definitely wasn't living. And I hoped Ryan would be the goodness that she needed to make her see that she desperately needed to make changes in her life. I was grateful that she had a kind boss and a loving sister who tried again and again to connect with her. So when Maggie started to make a few decisions that were for the better, I was cheering her on every step of the way!

“Where did you come from?” she whispered, her thoughts jumbled and lost somewhere between her memories and reality, between here and outer space.
“I just got here.” His stare held hers like a hug, warming her from the inside out.


I absolutely loved Ryan! He was my favorite character. He was helpful, sexy, kind *his offer to walk with her, cries* and I loved his huge family. But that man had no game when he ran into Maggie at her job lol! He made me smile, laugh and fall so hard for him. He tried countless times with Maggie, whether it was to help or be friendly, even though she would shut him down so many times. Thankfully he was persistent and had a kind heart. So he didn't give up easily. So when he got Maggie to have fun or even smile, I felt Ryan's joy flying from the pages!

".... Not all emotions hurt, Maggie.”


The beginning of this story started out a little slow as we got to know both Maggie and Ryan, along with their town and families. And getting that solid foundation, wow, that led to an extremely powerful effect. It felt like we knew them and their world inside and out. That they were a part of us. So their emotions bled through the pages with an intensity that was consuming. As the story progressed and Maggie and Ryan had friendly moments together, oh my heart it was breathtaking and emotional. I still felt like they were walking on eggshells. But it was all part of the process. There was still so much healing that had to take place. And I hoped Ryan would continue to have all the patience in the world for Maggie, because she needed it!

“I have this fear that you’ll erase him.”
“What?”
Her brow pinched with regret. “The more time we spend together, the less I think of him.”
“Maggie, you can’t put that on me.”
“I know. But it’s what’s happening. I like this. But I feel like I’m losing pieces of myself the more we do this.”


This book was rounded out with so many fabulous side characters. Ryan's family and extended family was humongous! And I realized that a lot of his relatives were in a completed series, The McCullough Mountain Series! So of course I went and added that first book, Almost Priest, to my tbr! Those people were heartwarming, boisterous, hilarious and I loved how much they loved each other but were also completely in each other’s business ha! That's a series I'm looking to dive into!

When she pulled away, she looked up at him and whispered, “If you keep rescuing me like this, I’m going to forget how to save myself.”
“Who said you have to do it alone?”


Wake My Heart was filled with being brave, making amends, fresh starts, jealousy, friendship and love, this book was so fabulous! I loved the emotional side and it was impossible not to shed tears. I loved the laughter the large family brought. And I adored the small town this story was set in. I picked this book up because Lydia Michaels will be attending Apolllycon this year and I'm so happy I did. I can't wait to meet her in person and read so many more of her books!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bailey Brown Publishing, and author, Lydia Michaels, for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review. This small-town romance follows Maggie O’Malley who has withdrawn from her loved ones and town, since the tragic death of her husband. The book starts when a new neighbor moves in and tries to connect with Maggie. Maggie is still in deep depression and grief since her husband's death. I cannot read grief-focused fiction, in which the majority of the novel is about the main character trying to get over their trauma. If you can handle an extremely sad premise like this, then you would love this story and the character's development. I personally, did not enjoy the story.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a sweet book. A nice fluff read while still dealing with some trauma.

𝘞𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘔𝘺 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 follows a heartbroken Maggie after her husband's accident and forever-prone-to-being-single Ryan as they both learn to grow and learn on each other.

- ~ -

The whole grief aspect of Nash's death was, while tragic, a bit frustrating.

Also throughout I was a little unsure about Ryan's intentions with Maggie like he did ensure she was comfortable with the speed of the relationship but at the same time pushing her just a tad too much?

All in all, I just wanted to be over with the story so that says much about how I found the plot I guess.

- ~ -

3.46 / 5✩

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘉𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘥. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

Finished this one in no time, fast read and while the story was predictable in its course, the journey there was engaging and the break-up crisis had an unexpected twist. Loved how the author interwove the McCulloughs into this one, so be sure to read that series first to follow the family tree, though it is not imperative and the book can be read as a standalone. Maggie had isolated herself from everyone when she endured a heart wrenching, traumatic loss, but the advent of Ryan moving in next door became the catalyst for change in her life. Her transition is slow and regressive at times, but Ryan's patience and persistence is the perfect foil for her behavior. I have always enjoyed books by this author and this was no exception .I fully recommend getting your hands on a copy of this book. My thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and my unbiased opinion is mine alone.

‘Wake my heart’ is just what happens to Maggie O’Malley, when she meets Ryan Clooney. Having had her life torn apart with the death of her husband, she is barely holding it together. All she wants to do is remember her husband and to be left alone. Yet Ryan’s moving into the house next door to Maggie means that his life also changes. He never expected to fall in love with someone so complicated, but he finds himself unable to stay away. Yet for Maggie, the threat of feeling again, might just be too much for her to cope with.
This book will have you thinking long after the last page is read. I found myself torn apart by the first few chapters, feeling all the sadness that Maggie experiences at being left behind when her husband dies. I loved Ryan and his big extended family and his ability to accept Maggie’s past and the grief that accompanies it. His strength of character is what makes this relationship so special. A great read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wake My Heart by Lydia Michaels is the first book in the spinoff series Jasper Falls. If you liked the McCullough Mountain series this one will live up to them.

Ryan Connolly is 30 years old, it's time to do something solely for himself. He's been thrown into so many roles in his life without a conscience decision on his part that moving into his own home is freeing. He figures he'll end up single so when he catches sight of his neighbor he's immediately drawn to her. But Maggie has more than walls keeping others out and breaking them down one encounter at a time seems to be the only way to go. Ryan has the patience of a Saint and he knows with the chaos of his family that when you find someone to quiet everything it's worth fighting for.
Maggie O'Malley exists in a suspended reality and had been unable to move forward after the tragic death of her husband. She truly is just going through the motions until her new neighbor turns up. He's like a bad penny who seems to always find his way to her when she just wants to be left alone. Has two years been enough time to shake off the shackles of grief and start becoming the Maggie without Nash? She is forced to accept that she's alive and hiding from the world is no longer an option. Ryan makes her feel and that is scarier than dealing with her demons.

This book contains loss, you are likely going to be sobbing at some point. Be prepared. Also, you get a nice dose of the McCullough and extended family, so enjoy.

A fantastic read! I.enjoyed the entire book from start to finish. I liked the characters in the book. Such a feel-good story!

(3.5⭐️)

In her small-town romance Wake My Heart, Lydia Michaels follows widowed Maggie Harries-O'Malley and hardworking Ryan Clooney.

I had some reservations going into this book because the FMC had already been married, which meant that she had already fallen in love with another man before the MMC entered her life, but it wasn't quite as horrible as I had anticipated.

I adored how kind and considerate Ryan was, how he was so understanding of Maggie's conflicting emotions and how patient he was with her. I really admired Ryan's candor on his feelings for Maggie. I also liked how Ryan didn't try to make Maggie forget about her husband in any way and how she discovered that her heart was big enough to hold memories of her spouse and love for Ryan.

The latter half of the book, however, left me with the impression that Ryan was simply too good of a guy to be with Maggie because all she was doing was manipulating his emotions and breaking his heart in the process.

In all, this was a good book with just the right amount of heartache and angst to keep readers interested.

*Thank you to Bailey Brown Publishing, and to the author, Lydia Michael, for providing me with this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!*

This is a love story between three people. Two alive and the other dead. Maggie has been lost since her husband's unexpected passing. She has been moving through life, but not really living until Ryan, her new neighbor moves in next door. He is nosy, kind and attentive and everything about Maggie speaks to him. This is a relationship about moving on, guilt and the happiness of love. Maggie and Ryan's romance was touching, heartbreaking and sweet. I devoured this book in my need to see these two come together. I was rooting for their relationship the whole way and I believe many others will as well. This was an emotional and highly enjoyable romantic read!

Grief and heartbreak is a major theme in this small town, slow burn romance, where friends become something more. At times, I thought the story was a little too depressing, as Maggie basically struggles with her grief nearly the entire story. I also thought the steam was a bit lacking and felt there should have been more focus on the romance, as it seemed like Ryan was portrayed more as a friend than lover.

Thank you NetGalley and Valentine PR & Literary Management for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

An emotional read. I liked that it was told from both points of view so you understood their back stories.