5

His Heart

Title: His Heart
Author: Claire Kingsley
Genre: Romance
Release Date: November 5, 2017
Pages: 348

"Claire Kingsley breaks your heart and puts it back together again with this story of second chances and a love that won't die." ~Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Lucy Score

Brooke Summerlin’s life is like a Cinderella story. Raised by an abusive, drug addicted mother, she desperately hides the truth about where she comes from. But Prince Charming arrives in the form of Liam, the most popular guy at school. He sweeps into her life and carries her away to what is supposed to be a happily ever after.

Until it isn’t.

Sebastian McKinney is the son of an Iowa state champion wrestler, and that’s what he’s going to be. Wrestling is his life. He’s focused. Determined. Nothing will stand in his way.

Except a silent illness that almost kills him.

Brooke’s greatest tragedy becomes Sebastian’s second chance at life. Four years later, he’s moving forward, his body healthy, while she is left to sink in grief that threatens to drown her. Haunted by a past she can’t escape.

But sometimes love transcends the boundaries of life and death—between what is known and what cannot be explained. The heart that loved Brooke continues to beat, and even now, it still beats for her.

**His Heart contains mature language and content.**

A heart shared by two. Loved by one.

This book is one of my top five reads of the year. For any of you who are familiar with Claire Kingsley and her other series, you know that she is a fantastic writer. Her Book Boyfriend series will make you alternately swoon and chuckle. The Always series brings the bad boys, the dirty talking and the angst. Jetty Beach will have you sighing and feeling. They are all tremendous.

His Heart is like nothing Ms. Kingsley has written ever before. When I finished the book, I was sobbing. And I have tears running down my cheeks as I write this review. His Heart is wonderful. Truly. A compelling story. Honestly, it’s unlike anything ever written before by any author that I have ever read. And so this review, my review, will be unlike anything I have ever written before, as well.

One side of the story is that of first love- that funny and awkward teenage thing that, in those rare cases, blossoms into something real, and meaningful that you know could stand the test of time. The story that runs parallel is one sharply less full of light and hope- a boy, on the cusp on adulthood, facing a twist that no teen, nor the parents of one, would ever in a million years see coming. And these stories, they run their courses, side by side, for just long enough to have you questioning what the author is doing. You invest yourself. In both. And alternately smile, and then worry, at the antics and pure love of the young couple, and for the boy who grows increasingly weaker. But still you turn the pages.

And then it comes. That moment. When you curse the author’s name. And you want to give it up. Because, no, that’s not right. That’s not how romance works you want to scream. And for a few beats, you are uncertain if you can turn any more pages. Because your heart is breaking. Into little pieces that fall on the floor and soak up the tears streaming down your face. And you don’t think that you like this story, or the author, very much right now. You walk away for a short time, but then return, knowing that this author would not lead you astray. So you trust her. And you open the pages once more. And then your heart breaks. Just a little bit more, and then more again. Until you truly think that there are no in tact pieces left within your chest. And that’s when it happens. Slowly. Very slowly. The pieces start to drift back together. The seams where the pieces are re-glued are visible. The scars apparent. But they all, eventually, come back together. And you breathe, shakily, but deeply, for the first time in hours. Because although your heart is once again whole, it is changed, and you realize the impact of that. Because the change gives you an entirely new perspective- on the fragility of life, and on the depth of love. And only an unbelievably amazing piece of writing crafted by an undeniably talented writer can offer that.