“A Healing Heart” by Melissa A. Hanson

A Healing Heart (Riverview Series Book 1) by Melissa A. Hanson

I knew this was a young adult teenage romance when I requested it for review, but the book description looked really intriguing so I decided to give it a try.

The first several chapters drew me in with getting to know Bailey and her traumatic past, and about her new love interest Collin. I liked that she had a great relationship with her aunt and uncle, and that she was very responsible with keeping up at school and babysitting a 2 year old little boy most of her free time.

About halfway thru the book however, the major teenage drama started with the misunderstandings and jumping quick to conclusions.

I remember when I was that age that everything was so important and that love interests at that age are so serious; but after life experiences and age-maturity sets in and you realize alot of those teenage friendships and emotions are not so “life and death”.

If I were younger, I might have enjoyed the rest of the book more; but since I’m in my 30s, I didn’t enjoy reliving teenage young love and drama.

I also felt like Bailey’s dependency on Collin’s relationship and love grew to an unhealthy level that affected her health which is a very poor example for other teenagers.

There was unnecessary language (using the D swear word) through out the book which I also didn’t like.

Overall it was a sweet story that started well and ended well, but over the top with the drama.

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook for blog and social media review from ebooksforreview.com. All opinions are my own.

Amazon Book Description:
On a bitter cold winter night Bailey Walsh’s family was killed in a traffic accident. Two years later as she lives with her aunt and uncle in Southern California, Bailey is still plagued by the nightmares of that terrible night. Everywhere around her are reminders of what she lost. Even her aunt, in a cruel twist of fate, is not just her mom’s sister, but her identical twin.

Babysitting Riley, a spunky two-year old, is a sweet distraction and one constant light in her life. One day as she takes Riley to the park she meets Collin McKenna, a senior at her high school and her life is changed forever as he helps her find herself and realize her life is worth living.

As the romance between them grows her broken heart begins to heal. However, still nagging in the back of her conscious is the fear that her newfound happiness could come crashing down and she could lose everything she loves, yet again.

Outside forces begin to tear them apart and Bailey must learn to trust in herself and realize that she is worthy of happiness. That sometimes love and healing comes in unexpected forms.

A Healing Heart, is a story about first love, life’s unexpected tragedies, and the miracles that make it possible to move forward.

About the Author:
MELISSA A HANSON lives in Southern California, with her husband and two sons. Growing up in Southern California, inspiration for the city of “Riverview” is based on her hometown. A Healing Heart is her first completed novel a book 1 of the Riverview Series.