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Megan Jacobs always wished for a different heart. Her entire childhood was spent in and out of hospitals, sitting on the sidelines while her twin sister Crystal played all the sports, got all the guys, and had all the fun. But even a heart transplant three years ago wasn’t enough to propel Megan’s life forward. She’s still working as a library aide in her small Minnesota hometown and living with her parents, dreaming of the adventure she plans to take “once she’s well enough.” Meanwhile, her sister is a successful architect with a handsome husband and the perfect life—or so Megan thinks.
When her heart donor’s parents give Megan their teenage daughter’s journal—complete with an unfulfilled bucket list—Megan connects with the girl she meets between the pages and is inspired to venture out and check off each item. Caleb—a friend from her years in and out of the hospital—reenters her life and pushes her to find the courage to take the leap and begin her journey. She’s thrown for a loop when Crystal offers to join her for reasons of her own, but she welcomes the company and the opportunity to mend their tenuous relationship.
As Megan and Crystal check items off the bucket list, Megan fights the fears that have been instilled in her after a lifetime of illness. She must choose between safety and adventure and learn to embrace the heart she’s been given so that she can finally share it with the people she loves most.
My Thoughts:
The Heart Between Us
was an endearing tale of twin sisters Crystal and Megan, one healthy and one
not. Megan was diagnosed with a heart disease when only eight years old. She
spent a good portion of her life very sick until she was able to receive a
heart transplant. The twins now 32 years old, have drifted away from each
other. Crystal is married and a busy, very busy architect in New York City.
Megan still lives at home with her parents working at the library part time. Those
things are what define them from the outside. From the inside, though, both of
these women have a lot going on. I really liked how the author showed that
sickness in family effects everyone, not just the seriously ill.
There is another person who is a piece of this puzzle, and
that is a teenager by the name of Amanda who is Megan’s heart donor. We meet
and get to know Amanda through her journal where she recorded her bucket list. Both
sisters have been living with fear their whole lives. Megan decides to push
through hers to fulfill Amanda’s dreams of traveling the world. Crystal who is
under great stress from work and her marriage decides to take her husband’s
advice and go with Megan. And what an adventure it was to vicariously see the
world its magnificence and its dangers through the eyes of the sisters and
their experiences.
I really enjoyed the travel part. The romance for both sisters
is subtle but when it shows up it shows up in simplest forms and makes a great
impact. I liked that through the story we got to know about Amanda and her
struggles and dreams. How after a traumatized childhood she wanted to live
again. How Amanda inspired Megan to follow her dreams as a writer and to grab
life and live it to its fullest. Crystal, sometimes I just wanted to shake her
and tell her to stop and slow down to see what she was missing. But I realized
she had built walls as well to protect her heart.
This was quite an unexpected story by a new to me and very
talented author. I look forward to more from her writing pen.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel. I was not
required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
About the Author:
Lindsay Harrel is a lifelong book nerd with a B.A. in journalism and M.A. in English. She lives in Arizona with her young family and two golden retrievers in serious need of training. Lindsay has held a variety of jobs, including curriculum editor for two universities, medical and business writer, and copywriter for a digital marketing agency. Now she juggles stay-at-home mommyhood with working freelance jobs, teaching college English courses online, and—of course—writing novels.
When she actually has time to do other things, she loves to sing, read, and sip passion iced teas from Starbucks. She loves to watch God work in ordinary lives to create something extraordinary, and she writes to bring hope to those who may have lost it along the way. Connect with her at www.LindsayHarrel.com and any other place she hangs out online, including Facebook and Twitter.
Q&A with Lindsay
How long have you been writing?
I’m one of those I’ve-been-writing-since-I-was-a-kid people. I remember creating “books” by folding over a stack of papers and stapling them together, then writing and illustrating them (although the writing was much better than the very poor illustrating!). I took creative writing in high school but decided there was too much competition to consider writing books as a career. I decided to pursue journalism instead, which ended up being a great route, since you learn how to “write tight” in journalism school. I went on to receive my master’s as well, but during my program, something happened. I took a fiction class as an elective and remembered how much I loved creating stories. At the time, I also worked with several people who were writing fiction on the side. We talked about writing all the time, and it got me excited about trying my hand at it. So when I finished my degree in 2011, I began to seriously pursue publication.
What has your publication journey looked like?
Like almost every author, it’s been paved with rejection. I wrote my first book quickly in 2011—it’s now something I lovingly refer to as The Book That Must Not Be Named (Harry Potter reference, anyone?). Once I pitched that book at a conference and figured out it was not very good, I attended several retreats and other conferences and read a ton of books to strengthen my craft. I wrote another book and landed an agent, who asked me to rewrite the book because “the premise [was] flawed.” Double groan! But I did it, and I learned a lot in the process. Then, when nothing came of pitching that book, I wrote another book, and it was finally contracted by a small press (Ashberry Lane) in 2016. I wrote yet another book, and it began to look like I might never land the “big contract” I’d always dreamed about. I even took a break from writing for several months and prayed about whether to set aside my proverbial writing pen for a season, since I had a toddler and was pregnant with my second son. But God had other ideas. In late 2016, I was offered a two-book contract with Thomas Nelson (an imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing), my dream publisher. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to work with such a well-known publisher and to improve my craft with the help of the amazing team of editors there.
Where do you find your inspiration?
I look for inspiration everywhere, but the main spark for my books is often something I hear on the radio or read in the news. And while I don’t write people I know into my stories, characters sometimes will have personalities or quirks similar to people I’ve observed. I usually end up putting some of myself in every main character I write as well, though not intentionally! In addition, some of the themes I’ve dealt with in my novels have been things I’ve experienced personally. For example, in The Heart Between Us (2018), Crystal deals with a family member who has had a long-term illness. My mother fought cancer for many of my formative years, and that’s something that left a lasting impact on my life. It’s always interesting to delve into these types of topics within a story. I always learn something new about myself in the process.
Why do you write?
To become a millionaire! Kidding, kidding. I do know some authors who say they simply have to write or they’ll burst. That’s not really me. Telling stories is difficult. Being original takes energy, vulnerability, and lots of emotion. In other words, it takes a lot out of you. It’s far easier in some ways to NOT write. But I know it’s what I’m meant to do because it’s so challenging. Nothing else requires me to rely on God and to be part of something bigger than myself like when I write. I also love knowing that my stories touch others’ lives. To be able to offer encouragement and hope to people who have great need of it makes my job as a writer priceless.
Who are your favorite authors?
Oh man, this is a tough question. Like many readers of Christian fiction, the first book I ever read in the genre was Francine Rivers’ Redeeming Love. It’s a powerful book about God’s deep abiding love for his people and the forgiveness he offers each of us—even those we’d see as the “least deserving.” Other authors whose works constantly challenge me include Susan Meissner, Katie Ganshert, Susan May Warren, Rachel Hauck, and Melissa Tagg in the fiction realm, and Lysa TerKeurst, Ann Voskamp, and Shauna Niequist in the non-fiction realm.
What advice do you have for others who want to write?
Keep writing. It sounds cliche, but it’s the truth. If one book keeps getting rejected, move on to a new project. It will bring a fresh perspective and an opportunity to strengthen your craft. Also, join a writing organization; if you’re writing Christian fiction, American Christian Fiction Writers is the best! My Book Therapy is also an amazing organization that helps writers learn the craft. I would not be published without what I learned from both of these groups. I’d also say to attend conferences and get online—and network! Get to know others in your industry and never stop learning. Finally, stay focused. Redefine success. The writing industry can be slow-going and it can be difficult to feel like you’re making traction. Keep your eye on the prize and remember that forward progress is exactly that—progress.
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