ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Angela Breidenbach is a speaker/coach in mental and physical health, author of A Healing Heart April 2013 from Abingdon Press in the Quilts of Love series, Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life, Creative Cooking for Simple Elegance, and Creative Cooking for Colitis. Other works by Angela include compilation books and devotionals from Guideposts, Group, and articles in magazines, ezines, and newspapers. She is certified in mentor/peer counseling as a CTA life coach, as a Stephen Minister, and a weight loss/nutrition coach. Angela serves as an assisting minister (worship/prayer leader) for her congregation in Missoula, MT. Not only did she walk the hard line of deciding to donate her mom’s brain for the study of schizophrenia, but she’s also on the brain donation list at the Brain Bank-Harvard McLean Hospital.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Mara Keegan is an uber-successful mother and a widow of three years. She's been chasing success and all the "good things in life" for her family to make up for the cruel whim God played on them by taking her husband. In an effort to be the perfect mom, she decides to make a photo memory quilt, a graduation present for her daughter, Cadence.
She’s not yet finished when she experiences a heart attack. While Mara recuperates, she revisits the choices she's made that led to this physically and spiritually broken heart. The memory quilt must be finished in time for Cadence's big day, but Mara struggles with her burgeoning feelings for the man who must keep Mara's business going during her recovery, Joel Ryan. Can Joel find his way into Mara's heart and onto Cadence's quilt?
My thoughts:
Superman to the rescue! Who doesn't love a book with a larger than life hero? Joel Ryan is a seemingly flawless character who shows up just in time to save the day for the Keegan family...but unfortunately he has a history with mom and business CEO Mara. Can she trust him as he commits to helping her business survive while she faces unexpected health issues?
I really enjoyed this story. Well-written characters fill the book - Maya, full of angst with Joel, overwhelmed by the promises made to her late husband to make their business a success; her three kids (Marisa, Toby, and Cadence) searching to find normalcy after their father's death; neighbor Mrs. Calder, whose motherly (and grandmotherly) guidance keeps the household going during Mara's recovery; Joel, whose superpowers seem to work wonders on everyone...except Mara; and even lovable Louie, the talented and charming family pooch.
Mix these great characters with a heartwarming story...with both drama and levity...and this book is a winner. This has been one of my favorite Quilts of Love stories so far (and they've all been good) and is definitely a book not to pass up.
My sincere thanks to CFBA and Abingdon Press for generously providing a copy for review.
If you would like to read the first chapter of A Healing Heart, go HERE.
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