Reunited Hearts

HERNE, RUTH LOGAN

REUNITED HEARTS

Back in his hometown, military hero Trent Michaels comes face-to-face with a twelve-year old boy who looks just like him. Same dark curly hair. Same blue eyes. And the boy calls Trent's old flame, Alyssa Langley, mom.

Trent was a foster kid from the wrong side of the tracks when he fell in love with Alyssa. But she cast him aside because he wasn't good enough -- or so he thought. Now Trent is determined to connect with his newfound son. And to get the truth from the woman he never stopped loving...

HERNE HAS A PENCHANT FOR INCLUDING GRIT AND SUBSTANCE IN HER ROMANCES AND SHE DIDN'T HOLD ANY PUNCHES WITH THIS ONE!

I FELL IN LOVE WITH TRENT ON THE VERY FIRST PAGE. IDENTIFIED WITH HIM RIGHT AWAY. (THE STORY OPENS WITH TRENT'S PERSPECTIVE, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT UNUSUAL FOR A CATEGORY ROMANCE.)

TRUTHFULLY THOUGH, IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO WARM UP TO ALYSSA. THE REASON, OF COURSE, IS THE FACT THAT SHE KEPT HER SON A SECRET FROM HIS FATHER. IT TAKES A TALENTED WRITER AND A MORE THAN PLAUSIBLE PLOT TO WIN ME OVER WHEN THIS KIND OF SCENARIO TAKES CENTRE STAGE IN A BOOK. LUCKILY HERNE IS MEGA-TALENTED BOTH IN HER WRITING STYLE AND HER PLOTTING BECAUSE I WAS SOLD!!!!

HERNE LETS US FEEL TRENT'S PAIN, HIS ANGER, ALLOWS US TO UNDERSTAND HIS PAST ANGST, REALIZE HOW MUCH HE HAS OVERCOME TO GET TO BE THE MAN HE IS TODAY. THAT DREW ME LIKE A MAGNET! EVEN IN THE MIDST OF HIS PAIN HE TOOK MEASURE OF EACH SITUATION, TOOK CARE TO PUT THE NEEDS OF HIS SON FIRST, KEPT PRAYING, SOUGHT COUNSEL. HE'S A GOOD MAN. A SOLID MAN. AND THE READER GETS THAT RIGHT FROM THE VERY FIRST CHAPTER.

LYSSA, ON THE OTHER HAND, HOLDS HERSELF APART. AS I'M READING, I REALLY CAN'T IDENTIFY WITH HER REASON FOR KEEPING TRENT OUT OF THEIR SON'S LIFE. ON THE SURFACE IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. JUST LIKE SITUATIONS IN REAL LIFE. HAVEN'T WE ALL WONDERED WHY SOME PEOPLE STAY CAUGHT UP IN A DESTRUCTIVE PATTERN? IT'S EASY TO JUDGE WHEN WE ARE ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN. BUT WHAT IF WE JUST STOPPED JUDGING AND STARTED ACCEPTING, LOVING, UNDERSTANDING?

THAT'S WHAT REALLY HIT HOME TO ME AS I READ REUNITED HEARTS. MY FEELINGS ABOUT LYSSA CHANGED AS HERNE EXPERTLY REVEALED LAYER AFTER LAYER OF CONFUSION, MISCOMMUNICATION AND HURT. AND OH THE STUBBORNNESS! I CAN TOTALLY RELATE TO THAT. SUDDENLY LYSSA WAS A MULTIDIMENSIONAL CHARACTER I COULD EMPATHIZE WITH!!! I 'GOT' HER IN AN AHA MOMENT MIDWAY THROUGH THE BOOK AND BY THE END I WAS BLUBBERING LIKE A BABY BECAUSE IT WAS THAT GOOD!

DEFINITELY MORE THAN AN ESCAPE READ, THIS ONE MAKES YOU THINK. IT WOULD BE A GREAT BOOK CLUB CHOICE AS WELL BECAUSE THE DISCUSSION TOPICS ARE ENDLESS.

For a chance to win a copy of this book plus three other Love Inspired titles -- A Family for Faith by Missy Tippens; The Rancher's Reunion by Tina Radcliffe; Wanted, a Family by Janet Dean PLUS some genuine Canadian goodies (edible and otherwise) all in one lovely package -- leave a comment at inkspirationalmessages.com any time this week. (I blog on Friday there). Your name will be entered into the draw as many times as you comment. Good luck!