Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Review and Giveaway: My Heart Remembers

In My Heart Remembers, Kim Sawyer returns with a book that starts with a punch of emotion that doesn’t stop until the last page. I have really enjoyed each of her books so far, and this one lived up to what I've come to expect from her:

-- a historical setting that I am transported to,
-- characters who are far from cookie-cutters, and
-- a historical hook that captures my attention.

Kim is a skilled author, and this book is a great addition to her body of work.

Orphaned in a tenement fire, three Irish-immigrant children are sent to Missouri to be adopted. Despite eight-year-old Maelle’s desperate attempts to keep her siblings together, each child is taken by a different family. Yet Maelle vows that she will never stop searching for her brother and sister – and that they will be together one day in the future.

The years pass, and Maelle continues to look for her siblings even as her hope of truly finding them is waning.

This story bounces between the perspectives of the three siblings. Each of them have had very different experiences with their new families, and their backgrounds are now so different I wondered if they’d ever recognize each other. The book also focuses on the plights of the abandoned children who were forced to work as some sought to institute child labor laws.

As a reader, it occasionally got frustrating to see the siblings so close, yet know they had no idea. Yet the barriers that kept them apart weren’t artificial. Each rang true. And the characters developed on many levels through the book.

The message of hope rings loud and clear in this book. Even when all seems lost, we can find hope when we place our lives in God’s hand.

This book will be a wonderful addition to your reading if you love historicals rich with characters you can root for.

To be entered for a chance to win this book, leave a comment with a way to reach you if you win.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Please enter me into your contest to win the book "My Heart Remembers". Sounds like a great book.....and you can never have too many great books, can you? Please contact me at choicegrandmausa@yahoo.com if I am the winner! Marcia

HilLesha O'Nan said...

Sounds like a good read!

lilacbutterfly [at] earthlink.net

Karin said...

Please enter me in the drawing. Thank you.

karin56381 (at) gmail (dot) com

Toystory said...

Sounds like a really good book, would love to win...so please enter me.

Sarah/Robert said...

Loved your review, Cara. Please count me in the drawing. I'd like to read Kim Sawyer. Kiss Rebecca for me!

Ilissa said...

This looks like a really wonderful book. Please enter my name in your giveaway. Thank you.

-Ilissa
ihchicky AT gmail.com

traveler said...

Thanks for this lovely giveaway. I was interested in your great review and am captivated with this novel.

Carole said...

I would so very much love to win a copy of Kim's book, as I haven't read this one yet. Thank you for the opportunity, Cara.

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Kat Bryan said...

This sounds really interesting. Thanks for having the contest.

Janna said...

I don't have this one and it sounds great! Please count me in...

Janna
ryanx6 at msn dot com

Charlotte Schofield said...

This sounds like my kind of story! I'd love to read it!

Aidenadara (at) yahoo dot com

ellie said...

This memorable novel reaches out to me. Thanks for this lovely giveaway.

Anonymous said...

Great storyline

dolls123[at]gmail[dot]com

Donna said...

I would love to win this book. Please enter me. By the way, I got Sandhill Dreams the other week and can't wait to read it and post my review!! runninmama[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

Mimi N said...

Cara, please enter me to win Kim's book. I haven't read her books yet and I'd love to have this chance. Thanks!

Mimi

mnjesusfreak at gmail dot com

ChristyJan said...

This sounds like a wonderful read!
Please enter me.
hawkes(at)citlink.net

windycindy said...

Hello, I hope all is going well with your family! I have read many good things about this book. Historical settings and characters very much interest me. Please enter me in your drawing. Thanks very much.....Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

squiresj said...

This book "My Heart Remembers" sounds like something I would enjoy. Enter me to win. I read my first Kim Vogel book this past two weeks.
jrs362@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

the cover is beautiful! it looks like a good read :)

Brittanie said...

Enter me please.
treewaterduchess at yahoo dot com

Carole said...

I've been wanting to read one of Kim's books for a good while. My Heart Remembers looks great, and I'd love to win a copy. Thank you for the opportunity.

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Carolynn said...

I love Kim Vogel Sawyer books! I can't wait to read this one...it sounds so good!

Anonymous said...

enter me in the contest-sounds like a great book!!

Jolene

Fedora said...

I love stories about siblings! Thanks for the chance to win this one :)

f dot chen at comcast dot net

petite said...

Thanks for this wonderful giveaway. This lovely book beckons me and it would be a memorable reading experience.

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...