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Heartborn #1
Heartborn
Her guardian angel was pushed.Keiron was never meant to be anything other than a hero. Born high above in a place of war and deception, he is Heartborn, a being of purity and goodness in a place where violence and deceit are just around every corner. His disappearance will spark a war he cannot see, for Keiron has pierced the light of days to save a girl he has never met, for reasons he cannot understand.Livvy Foster is seventeen, brave, and broken. With half a heart, she bears the scars of a lifetime of pain and little hope of survival. Until Keiron arrives. In the middle of a brewing war and Livvy’s failing heart, Keiron will risk everything for Livvy, because a Heartborn’s life can only end in one Sacrifice. Fall with Livvy and Keiron as they seek the truth about her heart, and his power, and what it means to love someone who will give their very life to save you.
ebook
First published September 1, 2016
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About the author
Terry Maggert
142 books573 followersLeft-handed. Herder of cats and dogs. Lover of pie. I write books. I've had an unhealthy fascination with dragons since the age of-- well, for a while. Native Floridian. Current Tennessean. Location subject to change based on weather, upheaval, or availability of coffee. Forty-nine books and counting, with no end in sight. You've been warned.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
August 11, 2016
He was a being of purity and love, a guardian angel, destined to be a hero and savior. Keiron’s world is one of violence, of deception, but the day he was pushed through time and space he fell into Livvy’s world and that was the day he knew his destiny would be fulfilled and this broken girl will become his reason for being.
Livvy has had a lifetime of pain and suffering and she knows it will be short. Her heart has never been whole, but Keiron becomes more than just a friend as he changes a lonely girl’s life into one filled with joy and hope for the future of Keiron’s world of angels.
Terry Maggert’s Heartborn is a magical tale of love, sacrifice and embracing your purpose in life. Written with an easy cadence, this tale feels almost part of the mist on a foggy day. A beautiful tale of holding enough love in your heart to give the ultimate sacrifice for those you love.
Told to target the hearts and imaginations of young adults, the emotions are front and center, the youthful romantic feelings are sweet and the message buried within is beautifully done. I can definitely see a huge audience from all age ranges becoming mesmerized by this sweet fantasy tale.
I received an ARC edition from Terry Maggert in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: September 1, 2016(Amazon) July 31, 2016 (Barnes & Noble)
Publisher: Terry Maggert
ISBN-13: 9781536834550
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print Length: 238 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Livvy has had a lifetime of pain and suffering and she knows it will be short. Her heart has never been whole, but Keiron becomes more than just a friend as he changes a lonely girl’s life into one filled with joy and hope for the future of Keiron’s world of angels.
Terry Maggert’s Heartborn is a magical tale of love, sacrifice and embracing your purpose in life. Written with an easy cadence, this tale feels almost part of the mist on a foggy day. A beautiful tale of holding enough love in your heart to give the ultimate sacrifice for those you love.
Told to target the hearts and imaginations of young adults, the emotions are front and center, the youthful romantic feelings are sweet and the message buried within is beautifully done. I can definitely see a huge audience from all age ranges becoming mesmerized by this sweet fantasy tale.
I received an ARC edition from Terry Maggert in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: September 1, 2016(Amazon) July 31, 2016 (Barnes & Noble)
Publisher: Terry Maggert
ISBN-13: 9781536834550
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print Length: 238 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
November 18, 2017
I have mixed feelings about this one. The book had an interesting premise and it started out great but it was very anti-climactic for me.
Heartborn had a great opening scene – Keiron is an angel and stands on some kind of floating-in-the-sky island, about to jump down to get to earth. But his brother binds/chains him and his wings and pushes him to his death – it was so intriguing and I immediately wanted to know more about the world and what was going to happen next!
I thought the concept was pretty interesting and I was excited for Keiron and Livvy to meet. I was eager to find out what Keiron’s “destiny” was and why he was in such a rush to get to earth to meet Livvy.
And then the confusing POV switches happened – you either got to see whatever was happening between Keiron and Livvy on earth (from Livvy’s POV) or what was happening at House Windhook in the sky (the place where Keiron’s family live).
That fact alone was very confusing because the story completely lacked world-building. The only thing I knew was that a House Windhook existed and Keiron’s parents lived there but I didn’t know what their purpose was, if there were other houses, how they stood in relation to each other/how the whole angel society up in the sky worked etc. I also found myself not caring for any of the characters of House Windhook.
The story simply couldn’t hold my interest and I found myself skimming through the last 40% of the book. I was so close to DNFing it!
I thought it was going to get better but the ending was so very predictable. It was partly revealed in the synopsis already so I was not very surprised. Heartborn had such great potential to become a whole action-packed novel about angels and humans with a lot of fighting but it absolutely fell short.
Full review is now up on my blog: https://toomuchofabooknerd.wordpress.... :)
*I received an e-ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Heartborn had a great opening scene – Keiron is an angel and stands on some kind of floating-in-the-sky island, about to jump down to get to earth. But his brother binds/chains him and his wings and pushes him to his death – it was so intriguing and I immediately wanted to know more about the world and what was going to happen next!
I thought the concept was pretty interesting and I was excited for Keiron and Livvy to meet. I was eager to find out what Keiron’s “destiny” was and why he was in such a rush to get to earth to meet Livvy.
And then the confusing POV switches happened – you either got to see whatever was happening between Keiron and Livvy on earth (from Livvy’s POV) or what was happening at House Windhook in the sky (the place where Keiron’s family live).
That fact alone was very confusing because the story completely lacked world-building. The only thing I knew was that a House Windhook existed and Keiron’s parents lived there but I didn’t know what their purpose was, if there were other houses, how they stood in relation to each other/how the whole angel society up in the sky worked etc. I also found myself not caring for any of the characters of House Windhook.
The story simply couldn’t hold my interest and I found myself skimming through the last 40% of the book. I was so close to DNFing it!
I thought it was going to get better but the ending was so very predictable. It was partly revealed in the synopsis already so I was not very surprised. Heartborn had such great potential to become a whole action-packed novel about angels and humans with a lot of fighting but it absolutely fell short.
Full review is now up on my blog: https://toomuchofabooknerd.wordpress.... :)
*I received an e-ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
April 9, 2017
2.5 Stars
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
I feel bad, because I feel like most of this book has passed me by and left me wondering just what I just read. Quite a lot of the plot is explained already in the blurb, but much more than that, I find it hard to describe.
Because of this I found it very hard to connect with the story or with any of the characters really, and I think it's save to say that the book was not for me. I didn't really care for Livvy, Keiron or any of the other characters.
I did like the way it was written as it made an easy read.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
I feel bad, because I feel like most of this book has passed me by and left me wondering just what I just read. Quite a lot of the plot is explained already in the blurb, but much more than that, I find it hard to describe.
Because of this I found it very hard to connect with the story or with any of the characters really, and I think it's save to say that the book was not for me. I didn't really care for Livvy, Keiron or any of the other characters.
I did like the way it was written as it made an easy read.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
April 25, 2019
I'm still trying to make sense of this book. We've got Keiron who is an angel that falls from the city in the sky to Earth in search of a special girl who is important to the fate of all the angels, especially his family. Then we've got Livvy, who has a bad heart but appears to be this special girl. They cross paths in the library and fall in love. Meanwhile, in the angel city, Kieron's family openly challenge the Cresent Council that rules the angels. The ending is a mind fuck.
I am still trying to make sense of this book. I don't mind when things get a little weird and I feel like I have a decent amount of patience when allowing a story to unfold, but at some point, I need the mystery and confusion to start making sense. This book was all over the place. I don't like feeling completely confused for the entire book only to read an ending is supposed to explain things but only confuses me more. I suppose the author did an ok job world building and I did have a good sense of Livvy's character but the rest of the characters needed more development. I thought Keiron was going to be important but we really never got to know him. It is also very unclear how the societies of angels and humans are supposed to be connected, despite Livvy's supposed importance.
I am still trying to make sense of this book. I don't mind when things get a little weird and I feel like I have a decent amount of patience when allowing a story to unfold, but at some point, I need the mystery and confusion to start making sense. This book was all over the place. I don't like feeling completely confused for the entire book only to read an ending is supposed to explain things but only confuses me more. I suppose the author did an ok job world building and I did have a good sense of Livvy's character but the rest of the characters needed more development. I thought Keiron was going to be important but we really never got to know him. It is also very unclear how the societies of angels and humans are supposed to be connected, despite Livvy's supposed importance.
Want to read
February 3, 2018I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
April 21, 2019
Crash and burn I think.. I actually think this might be more of a 1-1.5 stars for me.. I rarely ever rate a book lower than 2 and I'm still a little wary to do so but this book was almost impossible for me to follow. I thought at first it was because I was listening to the narration. That tends to happen occasionally with certain narrators and usually I have to finish the book myself, but I don't think it was the narration this time. I stopped listening going for the read myself tactic and still could not figure out what was going on. The blurb is incredibly misleading making the story sound like its going to be a journey between Livvy and Kieron our MC's but in all honestly there was hardly any story where they were concerned. I'm not sure if the author just had too complex of a world to go with the story and couldn't quite get it cohesive on the page? Or if the complexity of the world building just led to more and more plot holes which had the author scrambling to constantly give fact dump backstories and explanations in round about question/answer form? That is what ended up happening.. Most of the characters even seemed like afterthoughts, not really adding anything to the story only being used as scapegoats for plot holes or as in Cressa's case used to fact dump the world building/backstory on. That in itself was really odd as she was from that supernatural world which should mean she was familiar with all or most of the things everyone kept "explaining" to her.
In any case, the story ended up being a super long world building extravaganza where nothing is as it seems in the end and I still have no clue what the point really was. Who even is Livvy and what is the point of saving her? What is the exact point of this angelic world? How did they really even get there to that point? What in the world happened in this book.. I usually try to do a brief synopsis of the book in my reviews but I think I would fail pretty hard if I tried. I really never understood any of it and the ending rubbed me all kinds of wrong. I'm just going to chalk this up as a loss, and wish all future readers better luck for this. Maybe if you read it and understand what is really happening you can let me know...
In any case, the story ended up being a super long world building extravaganza where nothing is as it seems in the end and I still have no clue what the point really was. Who even is Livvy and what is the point of saving her? What is the exact point of this angelic world? How did they really even get there to that point? What in the world happened in this book.. I usually try to do a brief synopsis of the book in my reviews but I think I would fail pretty hard if I tried. I really never understood any of it and the ending rubbed me all kinds of wrong. I'm just going to chalk this up as a loss, and wish all future readers better luck for this. Maybe if you read it and understand what is really happening you can let me know...
January 29, 2017
The plot of Heartborn is quite difficult to explain because I’m not actually really sure what was going on. We follow two threads: one following House Windhook in their attempt to shake things up in what I assume was the angelic realm, and one following Livvy as she works in a library, struggling with her failing heart, until she meets Keiron who sacrifices everything to save her. The details and anything in between completely went over my head.
Angel stories are difficult to get right, and Terry Maggert really missed the mark with Heartborn. Even if the plot had been easier to follow, I still don’t think it would have drawn me in. I just didn’t find myself caring about any of the characters. The only saving grace was Livvy’s playful friendship with Dozer (literally the only part I really enjoyed reading). Even the twist at the end didn’t do anything for me because I was just pleased to have reached the end.
I’m aware that this has been an incredibly critical review, but I had much higher hopes for this book and it left me extremely underwhelmed. For an engaging and entertaining angelic YA story, I’d much sooner turn to Susan Ee’s Angelfall or even Lauren Kate’s Fallen. Ending on a positive note though, the cover is so pretty.
Angel stories are difficult to get right, and Terry Maggert really missed the mark with Heartborn. Even if the plot had been easier to follow, I still don’t think it would have drawn me in. I just didn’t find myself caring about any of the characters. The only saving grace was Livvy’s playful friendship with Dozer (literally the only part I really enjoyed reading). Even the twist at the end didn’t do anything for me because I was just pleased to have reached the end.
I’m aware that this has been an incredibly critical review, but I had much higher hopes for this book and it left me extremely underwhelmed. For an engaging and entertaining angelic YA story, I’d much sooner turn to Susan Ee’s Angelfall or even Lauren Kate’s Fallen. Ending on a positive note though, the cover is so pretty.
May 28, 2017
Finished reading: May 28th 2017
"Sometimes, she thought books had been the only thing other than the love her parents that kept her from quitting. They were old friends who never left, and always took her by the hand to go someplace her broken body could not."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
June 26, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
"Her guardian angel was pushed.
Keiron was never meant to be anything other than a hero. Born high above in a place of war and deception, he is Heartborn, a being of purity and goodness in a place where there violence and deceit are just around every corner. His disappearance will spark a war he cannot see, for Keiron has pierced the light of days to save a girl he has never met, for reasons he cannot understand. Livvy Foster is seventeen, brave, and broken.
With half a heart, she bears the scars of a lifetime of pain and little hope of survival. Until Keiron arrives. In the middle of a brewing war and Livvy’s failing heart, Keiron will risk everything for Livvy, because a Heartborn’s life can only end in one way: Sacrifice. Fall with Livvy and Keiron as they seek the truth about her heart, and his power, and what it means to love someone who will give their very life to save you."
This book had so much potential and I was really hopeful after the opening scene but am left feeling very disappointed.
My first issue is that nothing happened for ~80% of the story, then suddenly eveything happened and I couldn't follow it. I finished the book and have no idea what the final few chapters were about. The story is told from two perspectives: on Earth and in Woodook. The parts in our world, following Livvy, were SO boring. I hated them and couldn't wait to finish the chapter to move away from her story. While nothing was really happening in Woodook either, I much preferred those parts.
Character wise, I had no connection to any of them and didn't really care for them. I also hated the insta-love relationship between the two main characters. It was infurriating.
Some parts I thought were a bit juvenille but otherwise, the writing was beautiful and flowed really well. I would have liked to have seen more details about what a Heartborn (all I know is they're created for sacrifice and are born with their eyes open) and a blightwing actually are. Also there was a lack of world building, which I feel could have been executed beautifully if there was extra detail.
Good idea but delivered poorly. Save yourself a few days reading and just read the synopsis because that tells you basically everything that happens.
2/5 stars because it was written well but it just wasn't for me.
"Her guardian angel was pushed.
Keiron was never meant to be anything other than a hero. Born high above in a place of war and deception, he is Heartborn, a being of purity and goodness in a place where there violence and deceit are just around every corner. His disappearance will spark a war he cannot see, for Keiron has pierced the light of days to save a girl he has never met, for reasons he cannot understand. Livvy Foster is seventeen, brave, and broken.
With half a heart, she bears the scars of a lifetime of pain and little hope of survival. Until Keiron arrives. In the middle of a brewing war and Livvy’s failing heart, Keiron will risk everything for Livvy, because a Heartborn’s life can only end in one way: Sacrifice. Fall with Livvy and Keiron as they seek the truth about her heart, and his power, and what it means to love someone who will give their very life to save you."
This book had so much potential and I was really hopeful after the opening scene but am left feeling very disappointed.
My first issue is that nothing happened for ~80% of the story, then suddenly eveything happened and I couldn't follow it. I finished the book and have no idea what the final few chapters were about. The story is told from two perspectives: on Earth and in Woodook. The parts in our world, following Livvy, were SO boring. I hated them and couldn't wait to finish the chapter to move away from her story. While nothing was really happening in Woodook either, I much preferred those parts.
Character wise, I had no connection to any of them and didn't really care for them. I also hated the insta-love relationship between the two main characters. It was infurriating.
Some parts I thought were a bit juvenille but otherwise, the writing was beautiful and flowed really well. I would have liked to have seen more details about what a Heartborn (all I know is they're created for sacrifice and are born with their eyes open) and a blightwing actually are. Also there was a lack of world building, which I feel could have been executed beautifully if there was extra detail.
Good idea but delivered poorly. Save yourself a few days reading and just read the synopsis because that tells you basically everything that happens.
2/5 stars because it was written well but it just wasn't for me.
August 24, 2016
The book blurb tells you quite a bit about the story to come. This YA/Fantasy book by Terry Maggert is without a doubt the best YA book I have read. Just when I had resolved never to read YA books, due to the usual triangle of odd boyfriend/girlfriend and some type of paranormal activity, Mr. Maggert gave me Heartborn.
In case any of you are wondering what a good YA book looks like, this is it. The story is fresh and full of characters that are interesting and that I wanted to know more about. There are surprises around every corner! The writing is so fluid and easy to read that before you know it you are at the end.
A book about love, sacrifice, and family in this world and the one above.
On Earth, Livvy was born with half of a heart. Above, her guardian angel, Keiron, is about to have his wings cut off and get tossed below by his own brother. He has a mission and Livvy is it.
While his family above is getting ready to defend themselves for allowing Keiron to leave, Keiron and Livvy enter a relationship that will change both of their lives forever. Will he save her? Is anyone and anything what Livvy thought it was? You will just have to read it and see!
This book was hard to review. Really all I wanted to say was " You have got to read this book!"
In case any of you are wondering what a good YA book looks like, this is it. The story is fresh and full of characters that are interesting and that I wanted to know more about. There are surprises around every corner! The writing is so fluid and easy to read that before you know it you are at the end.
A book about love, sacrifice, and family in this world and the one above.
On Earth, Livvy was born with half of a heart. Above, her guardian angel, Keiron, is about to have his wings cut off and get tossed below by his own brother. He has a mission and Livvy is it.
While his family above is getting ready to defend themselves for allowing Keiron to leave, Keiron and Livvy enter a relationship that will change both of their lives forever. Will he save her? Is anyone and anything what Livvy thought it was? You will just have to read it and see!
This book was hard to review. Really all I wanted to say was " You have got to read this book!"
September 3, 2016
I had gotten to read a few chapters of this book before it was released and I was hooked. I really enjoyed this story of Livvy and of Kieron's family and their intertwined tales. The action, adventure, drama, and evolving love story are refreshing to read. You don't want to stop and when you do, because the story is over, you feel a sense of loss. You want to stay in Kieron & Livvy's world because it is so breathtaking and vivid, and less complicated than real life. I found myself going about my day and wanting to go read more and being sad because there was no more. I'm not much of a re-reader, but I may re-read this one just so I can linger in the story longer. At least until the next book comes out.
April 6, 2018
So... I don't know. This book left me confused. I liked Livvy, but the whole angels in the clouds didn't grip me and I felt mostly confused. Then at the end, I am not sure if a fell asleep while reading or just skipped a few pages by mistake on my kindle, but I have no idea where that plot twist came from. And it wasn't a good 'no idea', it was the 'I don't understand this at all, this is stupid' kind of plot twist.
I had hopes for this one but it just didn't fall on the right side of the fence for me.
I had hopes for this one but it just didn't fall on the right side of the fence for me.
February 13, 2017
I've read other books by this author and enjoyed the way Maggert writes. This novel is unique and based on a premise I haven't read before. I loved the concept of the houses and the characters Maggert builds in Windborn are well drawn and full of surprises. This first book is laying the groundwork for a heck of a series and I'll definitely progress to the rest. Absolutely a goer.
May 13, 2017
2 Stars
An ARC was provided for me through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to read this book because of the pretty cover and the promising blurb. It seemed to have so much potential for an action packed love story with angels, but the story turned out to be disappointing.
It was too short, there were sudden time jumps, the story happened too fast, there weren't enough/sufficient explanations for anything, which means that the world building was incomplete and the characters were underdeveloped.
The last part of the story made me scream out in frustation because I didn't understand what was going on.
Livvy was a nice girl, but in comparison to other YA Fantasy protagonists, she is really nothing special. She is the one chosen girl who will save them all. Sounds familiar? Well of course because we read this a thousand times already. Sometimes the trope of the special heroine doesn't bother me, because the implementation is done well, but sadly not in this book. I know this sounds cruel, but I couldn't even bring myself to care if she gets a new heart or not. Also Livvy just accepts her fate without being really confused, like if I were in her place I would react completely different.
Keiron was nice too, honestly I can't find a better description for the good characters in this book, but he was also too perfect. The typical too perfect love interest of the protagonist. It's pretty clear from the blurb that he is an angel who comes to earth. You would suspect that he needs some time to adjust to a human body, to act like a human and to find Livvy, but nope, he immediately has everything under control and finds Livvy pretty fast. Also he is a Heartborn, but it's never really explained in the book what a Hertborn is exactly. The lack of explanation in this book is really annoying.
Aside from those two we also have the bubbly best friend, the mean girls and the antagonist of course.
Keiron's and Livvy's relationship was cute, but it also was a typical insta love relationship. Nothing special here either.
The story was split in two parts, one was about Livvy and the other one was about Keiron's family. At first I was confused, why there was such a heavy focus on Keiron's family, but then their part became actually more exciting than Livvy's part.
This book is so incomplete, it seems like this was just a kick-off for a series, because the really important thing, that everyone seemed to prepare for didn't happen in this book.
I was ready to give this book 3 Stars, but sadly the end part destroyed the book for me, so it just gets 2 Stars from me.
In conclusion it's a nice story, but the lack of explanation and the abrupt end made the book disappointing.
An ARC was provided for me through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
"Is this the part where you tell me you're a prince, and that you need my help to claim your castle?"
I wanted to read this book because of the pretty cover and the promising blurb. It seemed to have so much potential for an action packed love story with angels, but the story turned out to be disappointing.
It was too short, there were sudden time jumps, the story happened too fast, there weren't enough/sufficient explanations for anything, which means that the world building was incomplete and the characters were underdeveloped.
The last part of the story made me scream out in frustation because I didn't understand what was going on.
Livvy was a nice girl, but in comparison to other YA Fantasy protagonists, she is really nothing special. She is the one chosen girl who will save them all. Sounds familiar? Well of course because we read this a thousand times already. Sometimes the trope of the special heroine doesn't bother me, because the implementation is done well, but sadly not in this book. I know this sounds cruel, but I couldn't even bring myself to care if she gets a new heart or not. Also Livvy just accepts her fate without being really confused, like if I were in her place I would react completely different.
Keiron was nice too, honestly I can't find a better description for the good characters in this book, but he was also too perfect. The typical too perfect love interest of the protagonist. It's pretty clear from the blurb that he is an angel who comes to earth. You would suspect that he needs some time to adjust to a human body, to act like a human and to find Livvy, but nope, he immediately has everything under control and finds Livvy pretty fast. Also he is a Heartborn, but it's never really explained in the book what a Hertborn is exactly. The lack of explanation in this book is really annoying.
Aside from those two we also have the bubbly best friend, the mean girls and the antagonist of course.
Keiron's and Livvy's relationship was cute, but it also was a typical insta love relationship. Nothing special here either.
The story was split in two parts, one was about Livvy and the other one was about Keiron's family. At first I was confused, why there was such a heavy focus on Keiron's family, but then their part became actually more exciting than Livvy's part.
This book is so incomplete, it seems like this was just a kick-off for a series, because the really important thing, that everyone seemed to prepare for didn't happen in this book.
I was ready to give this book 3 Stars, but sadly the end part destroyed the book for me, so it just gets 2 Stars from me.
In conclusion it's a nice story, but the lack of explanation and the abrupt end made the book disappointing.
May 16, 2017
2.5 stars.
Heartborn has a good concept and the details are well thought out, but for me the storytelling was a little off. Terry Maggert is well-written, and he can definitely turn a good phrase--there were countless quote-worthy phrases.
My issue wasn't with the technical ability, but rather the development. Heartborn could have used a lot more fleshing out to help develop the characters and setting properly. I initially thought this sounded like another Fallen (only better, even just reading the blurb), and I can say that it is infinitely better just in concept and setting.
However, I was lost for most of the story, which was intentional to keep the reader in suspense and learning more only as we progress, but for me it came off as a little too confusing. The characters went from oblivious to all-knowing with no real explanation as to how they are suddenly aware, and the reader only catches up a few pages before the end when all the explanations are dumped out in long paragraphed speeches.
I loved the idea of a brutal society of angels--humankind's future--and both the settings of the library and the Houses in the skies. The sacrifices made by key characters at the end could have been heart-wrenching had I felt more connected to them, the full weight of each decision and the outcome so much more powerful had it been delved into deeper.
Overall, this had a lot of potential, and I can still see the good qualities in the concept, plot twists, and the fated romance...but it moved too fast and dumped too much without taking the time to develop the much-needed emotional connection.
Thanks very much to the author for sending me this copy for my review!
Heartborn has a good concept and the details are well thought out, but for me the storytelling was a little off. Terry Maggert is well-written, and he can definitely turn a good phrase--there were countless quote-worthy phrases.
My issue wasn't with the technical ability, but rather the development. Heartborn could have used a lot more fleshing out to help develop the characters and setting properly. I initially thought this sounded like another Fallen (only better, even just reading the blurb), and I can say that it is infinitely better just in concept and setting.
However, I was lost for most of the story, which was intentional to keep the reader in suspense and learning more only as we progress, but for me it came off as a little too confusing. The characters went from oblivious to all-knowing with no real explanation as to how they are suddenly aware, and the reader only catches up a few pages before the end when all the explanations are dumped out in long paragraphed speeches.
I loved the idea of a brutal society of angels--humankind's future--and both the settings of the library and the Houses in the skies. The sacrifices made by key characters at the end could have been heart-wrenching had I felt more connected to them, the full weight of each decision and the outcome so much more powerful had it been delved into deeper.
Overall, this had a lot of potential, and I can still see the good qualities in the concept, plot twists, and the fated romance...but it moved too fast and dumped too much without taking the time to develop the much-needed emotional connection.
Thanks very much to the author for sending me this copy for my review!
September 5, 2016
I cried over Keiron. He sacrificed so very much and he was so honest and pure. I hope his sacrifice pans out and his families sacrifices are worth it. Make no mistake him and his family are not doing this for gain they are doing this for what they believe in and they make alot of sacrifice for this. they are a strong family unit and individually are unique and amazing in their own right. But Keiron for me is the one that steals it all.
He is selfless and loving. He is the heartborn a rare one indeed. And watching him and LIvvy connect was sweet and tender. While they are forging their bond and a future, Keiron’s family is in battle. His disappearance has left them in war. They go against a corrupt and powerhungry Council. We see a sister who is confident and believes in the cause come out more confident. A father and mother who sacrificed something precious fight with their lives for freedoms of their people. A house of Windhook come together and show their abilities and strength. Show their love for one another and their people. How they are willing to die for a cause and get freedom and end the days of being about political posturing and control. A family that helps a young woman become more and give their child over to someone so they may live.
While the dangerous battle is going on with Keiron’s family he is doing his part in helping Livvy. He gives her a chance and shows her compassion and understanding. All those around her are waiting for him to show and help them prepare her. Livvy works in a library but those around her aren’t what they seem. It is surreal how Terry Maggert was intertwined the worlds and blurs lines of what is and what will be. He creates a great beginning and builds the worlds and what is to come so seamlessly.
The character building and seeing who they are at the core is great because it helps you see why everything is being done. We see what the meaning of heartborn is, of sacrifice, family and love is. We see families come together for a greater cause, sacrifice for others and innocence be rewarded. Livvy learns who she is, learns she is amazing and special and not just because of her condition but because of her and this is Keiron who helps her see this. He also helps her to move forward and live. The worlds intertwine and affect each other so delicately and is written with ease and effortlessly that you don’t see the transition only the results and how they affect one another. The story is unique and interesting. Terry Maggert gives us a story in which one action can change all worlds and bring about change. He gives us action, danger, love and acceptance. He gives sacrifice in it’s purist form and families who love and give to help others. A well written, fascinating story that keeps you riveted and has you wonder what is next for the House of Windhook and Livvy. How will Keiron’s sacrifice change Livvy in the long run?
He is selfless and loving. He is the heartborn a rare one indeed. And watching him and LIvvy connect was sweet and tender. While they are forging their bond and a future, Keiron’s family is in battle. His disappearance has left them in war. They go against a corrupt and powerhungry Council. We see a sister who is confident and believes in the cause come out more confident. A father and mother who sacrificed something precious fight with their lives for freedoms of their people. A house of Windhook come together and show their abilities and strength. Show their love for one another and their people. How they are willing to die for a cause and get freedom and end the days of being about political posturing and control. A family that helps a young woman become more and give their child over to someone so they may live.
While the dangerous battle is going on with Keiron’s family he is doing his part in helping Livvy. He gives her a chance and shows her compassion and understanding. All those around her are waiting for him to show and help them prepare her. Livvy works in a library but those around her aren’t what they seem. It is surreal how Terry Maggert was intertwined the worlds and blurs lines of what is and what will be. He creates a great beginning and builds the worlds and what is to come so seamlessly.
The character building and seeing who they are at the core is great because it helps you see why everything is being done. We see what the meaning of heartborn is, of sacrifice, family and love is. We see families come together for a greater cause, sacrifice for others and innocence be rewarded. Livvy learns who she is, learns she is amazing and special and not just because of her condition but because of her and this is Keiron who helps her see this. He also helps her to move forward and live. The worlds intertwine and affect each other so delicately and is written with ease and effortlessly that you don’t see the transition only the results and how they affect one another. The story is unique and interesting. Terry Maggert gives us a story in which one action can change all worlds and bring about change. He gives us action, danger, love and acceptance. He gives sacrifice in it’s purist form and families who love and give to help others. A well written, fascinating story that keeps you riveted and has you wonder what is next for the House of Windhook and Livvy. How will Keiron’s sacrifice change Livvy in the long run?
November 6, 2016
Audiobook
My Rating: 4 1/2 Stars
*I received a free audiobook copy in exchange for an honest
Heartborn is a wonderful story and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I spent listening to it.
This was my first book by the author and I wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoyed every aspect of the story from the unique characters and the intriguing storyline to fantastic world created in Heartborn. Every element was so refreshing and interesting to me that I lost track of time as I listened to this engaging story.
Livvy, a teenager born with a rare heart condition, finds her world turned upside down when a handsome stranger walks into the library where she works. Keiron, a Heartborn guardian angel, has unexpectedly come to earth and knows he must protect Livvy at all costs. However, things don't go smoothly for the pair or the family Keiron left behind. And as war threatens because of his absence, Keiron's family must decide what actions to take to protect themselves and their home.
Flipping back and forth between the two settings, we are offered a glimpse of what life is like post-Keiron's fall for both Livvy and for his family. And I absolutely loved it. I loved the character of Livvy and her toughness despite, or perhaps because of, what she has been through during her life. And her friendships and interactions with other characters are so interesting and fun as her personality shines through. She's such a great character that you can't help but care for.
And the entire world that the author created with Heartborn, Windborn, Lightborn, and more types of angels and their homeland is so interesting. I enjoyed learning more about them and their history. I found myself looking forward to each scene in which we would visit and learn more while trying to understand the politics of this unusual world.
Terry Maggert's vivid descriptions and fascinating characters help create a story that lends itself well to the audiobook format. And Julia Whelan brought this world to life with her voice. She truly is a magical storyteller, in my opinion. I became lost in the story as I listened to her soothing voice and enjoyed the life she breathed into the story as well as into each of Terry Maggert's characters.
I enjoyed each personality that she gave the wide variety of characters. I soon forgot that she was the sole narrator as I listened to each voice and conversation. And as I mentioned before, I adored the character and personality of Livvy, and hearing her "voice" endeared her to me even more.
This book was so good and I am so glad that I got the chance to listen to it. I now want to "read" it again for myself if only to savor the story and its characters at my own pace.
Heartborn has made me want to listen to more of Julia Whelan's audiobook work as well pick up more of Terry Maggert's books. I definitely recommend this one!
My Rating: 4 1/2 Stars
My Rating: 4 1/2 Stars
*I received a free audiobook copy in exchange for an honest
Heartborn is a wonderful story and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I spent listening to it.
This was my first book by the author and I wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoyed every aspect of the story from the unique characters and the intriguing storyline to fantastic world created in Heartborn. Every element was so refreshing and interesting to me that I lost track of time as I listened to this engaging story.
Livvy, a teenager born with a rare heart condition, finds her world turned upside down when a handsome stranger walks into the library where she works. Keiron, a Heartborn guardian angel, has unexpectedly come to earth and knows he must protect Livvy at all costs. However, things don't go smoothly for the pair or the family Keiron left behind. And as war threatens because of his absence, Keiron's family must decide what actions to take to protect themselves and their home.
Flipping back and forth between the two settings, we are offered a glimpse of what life is like post-Keiron's fall for both Livvy and for his family. And I absolutely loved it. I loved the character of Livvy and her toughness despite, or perhaps because of, what she has been through during her life. And her friendships and interactions with other characters are so interesting and fun as her personality shines through. She's such a great character that you can't help but care for.
And the entire world that the author created with Heartborn, Windborn, Lightborn, and more types of angels and their homeland is so interesting. I enjoyed learning more about them and their history. I found myself looking forward to each scene in which we would visit and learn more while trying to understand the politics of this unusual world.
Terry Maggert's vivid descriptions and fascinating characters help create a story that lends itself well to the audiobook format. And Julia Whelan brought this world to life with her voice. She truly is a magical storyteller, in my opinion. I became lost in the story as I listened to her soothing voice and enjoyed the life she breathed into the story as well as into each of Terry Maggert's characters.
I enjoyed each personality that she gave the wide variety of characters. I soon forgot that she was the sole narrator as I listened to each voice and conversation. And as I mentioned before, I adored the character and personality of Livvy, and hearing her "voice" endeared her to me even more.
This book was so good and I am so glad that I got the chance to listen to it. I now want to "read" it again for myself if only to savor the story and its characters at my own pace.
Heartborn has made me want to listen to more of Julia Whelan's audiobook work as well pick up more of Terry Maggert's books. I definitely recommend this one!
My Rating: 4 1/2 Stars
February 20, 2017
“He’d pulled away to leave Livvy standing on her sidewalk, wondering if having half a heart meant that she was half a person and only entitled to half of everything, including love and respect.” – Heartborn by Terry Maggert
Keiron is not like the others. He is Heartborn. With a war brewing in a world from above, he takes a jump and lands on Earth to find a specific girl. Livvy only has half a heart and can only do so much. With dreams as high as the sky, she can only hope that one day, she will get better. She never would have guessed to find her own adventure walking through that door. What she doesn’t know is that Keiron’s presence is for a reason but what will he have to sacrifice in order to protect Livvy? What will he have to risk to save his world?
First, I would love to thank Jessica from The Audiobookworm for letting me know about her website! I've listened to an audiobook once before but while I was reading the book so just listening to Heartborn and not reading it was a totally different experience for me! The whole general idea of the story was very interesting. The world building was a bit confusing at times but it became much clearer towards the end. I liked that after dreaming of adventures and only getting to truly “live” through books, Livvy was able to have her own kind of adventure. I liked the relationship between Keiron and Livvy but I did find it to be very corny at times. He really seemed to make her happy and you can subtly see the change throughout the story. To me, I felt like she was a bit gloomy at the beginning. She was meeting new people and at the edge of her comfort zone, one foot in and one foot out. I definitely did not see the huge twist towards the end coming as everything started to blend together. It was a really good ending but I would have loved to know more about the otherworldly place from which Keiron was from. It was overall just such a cool concept.
The narration for Heartborn was super easy to follow! The woman that narrated the story was such a fantastic storyteller. She was able to really change her voice for every character and I had no trouble at all figuring out who was who. I find the experience of listening to an audiobook can really differ depending on who you have as the narrator. They did a really good job picking Julia Whelan for this one.
I give this book a 3.5 out of 5!
Keiron is not like the others. He is Heartborn. With a war brewing in a world from above, he takes a jump and lands on Earth to find a specific girl. Livvy only has half a heart and can only do so much. With dreams as high as the sky, she can only hope that one day, she will get better. She never would have guessed to find her own adventure walking through that door. What she doesn’t know is that Keiron’s presence is for a reason but what will he have to sacrifice in order to protect Livvy? What will he have to risk to save his world?
First, I would love to thank Jessica from The Audiobookworm for letting me know about her website! I've listened to an audiobook once before but while I was reading the book so just listening to Heartborn and not reading it was a totally different experience for me! The whole general idea of the story was very interesting. The world building was a bit confusing at times but it became much clearer towards the end. I liked that after dreaming of adventures and only getting to truly “live” through books, Livvy was able to have her own kind of adventure. I liked the relationship between Keiron and Livvy but I did find it to be very corny at times. He really seemed to make her happy and you can subtly see the change throughout the story. To me, I felt like she was a bit gloomy at the beginning. She was meeting new people and at the edge of her comfort zone, one foot in and one foot out. I definitely did not see the huge twist towards the end coming as everything started to blend together. It was a really good ending but I would have loved to know more about the otherworldly place from which Keiron was from. It was overall just such a cool concept.
The narration for Heartborn was super easy to follow! The woman that narrated the story was such a fantastic storyteller. She was able to really change her voice for every character and I had no trouble at all figuring out who was who. I find the experience of listening to an audiobook can really differ depending on who you have as the narrator. They did a really good job picking Julia Whelan for this one.
I give this book a 3.5 out of 5!
September 30, 2017
I received an digital copy of Heartborn, by Terry Maggert, from Netgalley for review, and I squealed at the cover. I admit that I absolutely judge books by their covers, and look at how beautiful this wing is! The colors are gorgeous, and they make the whole scene very ethereal, which is what I was hoping for when I read, right on the cover, that “her guardian angel was pushed.”
Unfortunately, Heartborn did not live up to my expectations. Here are a few (spoiler-free) reasons why.
Livvy Foster, the girl with “half a heart,” just wasn’t a strong enough protagonist for me. She has a compelling backstory of personal and physical willpower, but this did not shine through when, inevitably, she ended up falling head over heals for her fallen guardian angel. Her personality just didn’t translate in the storytelling, and I wish it had, because it would have been really interesting to have a “heroine” who was physically weak, but emotionally and mentally strong.
Next up, the pacing was all off. I was incredibly bored at the parts of this book where we focus on the “war [Keiron] cannot see,” because of how much Maggert needed to explain to the reader. And, this is done while alternating between Livvy’s story on Earth. Because of this, I was forced to do mental leaps and jumps to understand this brewing war and the politics behind it. There are some really interesting aspects to the place that Keiron left behind, but the world-building just wasn’t there. It didn’t seem like a solid place to me. Too much was thrown at me too quickly for me to care, and too little information was provided when I needed it most.
This is a total shame because the writing itself wasn’t bad! There were beautiful described moments and imagery, and I took pleasure in the fact that a majority of the time spent on Earth was at the library, where Livvy’s works.
I think Heartborn had potential! And if you are a fan of angels and the paranormal genre in general, you may have an easier time with this book than I did. But for all of Maggert’s beautiful writing, I could not get over how slowly the book moved, or the plot holes, or the lack of a strong character for me to focus on.
Unfortunately, Heartborn did not live up to my expectations. Here are a few (spoiler-free) reasons why.
Livvy Foster, the girl with “half a heart,” just wasn’t a strong enough protagonist for me. She has a compelling backstory of personal and physical willpower, but this did not shine through when, inevitably, she ended up falling head over heals for her fallen guardian angel. Her personality just didn’t translate in the storytelling, and I wish it had, because it would have been really interesting to have a “heroine” who was physically weak, but emotionally and mentally strong.
Next up, the pacing was all off. I was incredibly bored at the parts of this book where we focus on the “war [Keiron] cannot see,” because of how much Maggert needed to explain to the reader. And, this is done while alternating between Livvy’s story on Earth. Because of this, I was forced to do mental leaps and jumps to understand this brewing war and the politics behind it. There are some really interesting aspects to the place that Keiron left behind, but the world-building just wasn’t there. It didn’t seem like a solid place to me. Too much was thrown at me too quickly for me to care, and too little information was provided when I needed it most.
This is a total shame because the writing itself wasn’t bad! There were beautiful described moments and imagery, and I took pleasure in the fact that a majority of the time spent on Earth was at the library, where Livvy’s works.
I think Heartborn had potential! And if you are a fan of angels and the paranormal genre in general, you may have an easier time with this book than I did. But for all of Maggert’s beautiful writing, I could not get over how slowly the book moved, or the plot holes, or the lack of a strong character for me to focus on.
November 4, 2016
After I read the book description of ‘Heartborn’ I just knew I had to read this book. I love stories about angels and this book just sounded so good. So when I saw the sign up for the Audiobook tour I was even more excited. Now I would be able to listen to a story about angels while I was driving to and from work. I really couldn’t wait to start listening to this book.
‘Heartborn’ is definitely unlike any other book I read. The story is very original and I found myself fascinated with the characters and the storyline right from the beginning. Terry Maggert definitely wrote a beautiful story of love and sacrifice and I really enjoyed it.
I did have some trouble keeping all those character names apart in the beginning. This definitely frustrated me a little, but I honestly think this was more because I’m just so terrible bad in keeping apart names than that is was something about the writing.
The characters in ‘Heartborn’ were a lot of fun to get to know. I loved the main character Livvy the most. She was just so kind and good despite what life had given her: half a heart. I admired her strength and the way she still seemed to trust easily. I really enjoyed getting to know her.
The romance between Livvy and Keiron was not really what I expected. Although it was nice to read, I did expect a little more. But I must say this romance definitely fitted the story perfectly.
This was my first audiobook narrated by Julia Whelan and I really enjoyed listening to her voice. It took some getting used to when she talked as one of the ‘males’, but I must say I really liked her as a narrator. I definitely found myself being hooked to her voice and I could easily forget that she was only one person. Seriously.. Sometimes I wondered if maybe I was listening to more than one narrator. I’m definitely a fan of Julie Whelan now.
‘Heartborn’ is a beautiful story and I would definitely recommend it.
‘Heartborn’ is definitely unlike any other book I read. The story is very original and I found myself fascinated with the characters and the storyline right from the beginning. Terry Maggert definitely wrote a beautiful story of love and sacrifice and I really enjoyed it.
I did have some trouble keeping all those character names apart in the beginning. This definitely frustrated me a little, but I honestly think this was more because I’m just so terrible bad in keeping apart names than that is was something about the writing.
The characters in ‘Heartborn’ were a lot of fun to get to know. I loved the main character Livvy the most. She was just so kind and good despite what life had given her: half a heart. I admired her strength and the way she still seemed to trust easily. I really enjoyed getting to know her.
The romance between Livvy and Keiron was not really what I expected. Although it was nice to read, I did expect a little more. But I must say this romance definitely fitted the story perfectly.
This was my first audiobook narrated by Julia Whelan and I really enjoyed listening to her voice. It took some getting used to when she talked as one of the ‘males’, but I must say I really liked her as a narrator. I definitely found myself being hooked to her voice and I could easily forget that she was only one person. Seriously.. Sometimes I wondered if maybe I was listening to more than one narrator. I’m definitely a fan of Julie Whelan now.
‘Heartborn’ is a beautiful story and I would definitely recommend it.
April 30, 2020
The authors publishing assistant reached out to me on Goodreads last year asking me if I would be interested in reading and reviewing this book and after reading the synopsis of it I said yes. I had every intention of reading it within a month or two but I managed to let it get lost in the sea of books I wanted/needed to read so here we are a year later finally reviewing it. I just want to say thank you to the authors assistant as well as the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I picked up this book thinking it would be a quick read and while it is somewhat quick it is very slow going to begin with. It didn't really start to pick up for me until about 70% into it when some things started happening. The last 30% is action packed umm well maybe not packed but there was definitely a lot more going on in the last 30% then there was in the rest of the book.
This book switches between two points of view. The first one being Livvy's POV which was my favorite chapters to read and easiest to follow along with and the second was what was happening at House Windhook where Keiron's family is. I struggled to get into the chapters about House Windhook.
I'm struggling with this review because honestly after finishing it I am still not really sure of everything I read. There was a lot of things that went completely over my head and left me confused. The twist at the end that I definitely should have seen coming based off of what I knew kind of shocked me a little bit but overall I am just really underwhelmed by this. Even the romance was a let down and y'all know I pretty much love all romance but it just wasn't believable and it fell short for me.
I picked up this book thinking it would be a quick read and while it is somewhat quick it is very slow going to begin with. It didn't really start to pick up for me until about 70% into it when some things started happening. The last 30% is action packed umm well maybe not packed but there was definitely a lot more going on in the last 30% then there was in the rest of the book.
This book switches between two points of view. The first one being Livvy's POV which was my favorite chapters to read and easiest to follow along with and the second was what was happening at House Windhook where Keiron's family is. I struggled to get into the chapters about House Windhook.
I'm struggling with this review because honestly after finishing it I am still not really sure of everything I read. There was a lot of things that went completely over my head and left me confused. The twist at the end that I definitely should have seen coming based off of what I knew kind of shocked me a little bit but overall I am just really underwhelmed by this. Even the romance was a let down and y'all know I pretty much love all romance but it just wasn't believable and it fell short for me.
June 1, 2017
Falling the journey of Livvy and Keiron as they sought the truth of her heart, his need to save her, his power to save her and the depth of someone to love and die for another.
A being of love, light, power, strength, purity, yet capable of violence, deception, lies. How do these things work together? How do they not tear a soul apart? Keiron was of the heavenly realm. He was more than should have every graced the Earth below. Until the day he stumbled in to a world where there was something more. Some one more, Livvy.
This read for me was more than just about the angels or their struggle. This read gave me a look at a girl and a boy (man) and their relationship on a level so pure, sweet, innocent, and real. There was the story of pure love, total sacrifice, and beauty of life and living.
The emotions evoked were real and heartfelt. The pacing was just right. The sweetness of it all made for a read that could be shared and discussed with family. This was a fantastical tale of love, sacrifice, innocence, and beautiful relationships built on friendship.
Narrative Review of . . . HEARTBORN (Heartborn, #1) . . . The cadence of this read was more and different than I was expecting. The cadence of the narrator kept pace with the way that I had read the book the first time. It was precise. I found the audio quality to be clear and crisp. I found not repetitions or lag times. I found that Julia made the read feel more real. I could feel the emotions of it more. I found my imagination become more sparked with imagery. I loved that when changing the speed of the narration the quality was still there and the impact of her voice still resonated through.
A being of love, light, power, strength, purity, yet capable of violence, deception, lies. How do these things work together? How do they not tear a soul apart? Keiron was of the heavenly realm. He was more than should have every graced the Earth below. Until the day he stumbled in to a world where there was something more. Some one more, Livvy.
This read for me was more than just about the angels or their struggle. This read gave me a look at a girl and a boy (man) and their relationship on a level so pure, sweet, innocent, and real. There was the story of pure love, total sacrifice, and beauty of life and living.
The emotions evoked were real and heartfelt. The pacing was just right. The sweetness of it all made for a read that could be shared and discussed with family. This was a fantastical tale of love, sacrifice, innocence, and beautiful relationships built on friendship.
Narrative Review of . . . HEARTBORN (Heartborn, #1) . . . The cadence of this read was more and different than I was expecting. The cadence of the narrator kept pace with the way that I had read the book the first time. It was precise. I found the audio quality to be clear and crisp. I found not repetitions or lag times. I found that Julia made the read feel more real. I could feel the emotions of it more. I found my imagination become more sparked with imagery. I loved that when changing the speed of the narration the quality was still there and the impact of her voice still resonated through.
August 11, 2016
Terry sent me this book because he wanted me to give him my thoughts. I gave him my thoughts, and now it's your turn.
Buy this book. Don't hesitate. Don't second-guess yourself. Just buy it.
The story is about a girl who was born with half a heart. She's been through countless surgeries and dealt with pain and struggle all her life. She starts working at a library and meets an array of characters that help her see she isn't defined by her health issues. In a parallel story, there is trouble brewing for the angels that exist in another time and place. From using a form of scrying, it is determined that the only person who can help them is the broken girl on Earth. One angel is chosen to go back through time and space to save her and in turn, save their people.
Terry has a fantastic way of describing places and people that brings them to life in your mind. Any author that leaves me feeling heartbroken or happy for the characters they've created should be proud of the masterpiece they've created. The writing style flows so well and held my attention so well that I read this book in less than 24hrs. I even abandoned my own writing in favor of reading this story which is very unusual.
Don't pass this one up.
Buy this book. Don't hesitate. Don't second-guess yourself. Just buy it.
The story is about a girl who was born with half a heart. She's been through countless surgeries and dealt with pain and struggle all her life. She starts working at a library and meets an array of characters that help her see she isn't defined by her health issues. In a parallel story, there is trouble brewing for the angels that exist in another time and place. From using a form of scrying, it is determined that the only person who can help them is the broken girl on Earth. One angel is chosen to go back through time and space to save her and in turn, save their people.
Terry has a fantastic way of describing places and people that brings them to life in your mind. Any author that leaves me feeling heartbroken or happy for the characters they've created should be proud of the masterpiece they've created. The writing style flows so well and held my attention so well that I read this book in less than 24hrs. I even abandoned my own writing in favor of reading this story which is very unusual.
Don't pass this one up.
December 5, 2016
Well... THIS left me quite puzzled.
I'm still trying to figure out the meaning, or at least understand what I missed. It was like reading to completely different stories with no links but a single character that "disappears" in an undefined way. Exactly like reading two books at the same time with a common character.
There are so many things left without an explanation, that I wouldn't be able to sum up the plot with my own words. In the summary is present a "guardian angel", but frankly I can't associate the angelic figures present in the story with guardian angels, since except for the wings they have nothing in common.
The ending was the most confusing part, where the two story should become just one again... but actually it's just a strange mix of events that I wasn't able to follow.
I'm still trying to figure out the meaning, or at least understand what I missed. It was like reading to completely different stories with no links but a single character that "disappears" in an undefined way. Exactly like reading two books at the same time with a common character.
There are so many things left without an explanation, that I wouldn't be able to sum up the plot with my own words. In the summary is present a "guardian angel", but frankly I can't associate the angelic figures present in the story with guardian angels, since except for the wings they have nothing in common.
The ending was the most confusing part, where the two story should become just one again... but actually it's just a strange mix of events that I wasn't able to follow.
December 10, 2016
Audio review
"Wow "
Would you consider the audio edition of Heartborn to be better than the print version?
No I love both. Print books are my first love but audio books are what helps me get through my hour long commute
What did you like best about this story?
How did it was from anything else I've read lately. I really liked how I though I knew where the author was headed but my guess was wrong
Have you listened to any of Julia Whelan’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
No but I really loved how she brought the story to life
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
It didn't make me cry but it really made me think deeply about so much while listening to this
Any additional comments?
Was intrigued by this book when I first read the synapsis and was not disappointed at all.
Worth a credit and then some.
"Wow "
Would you consider the audio edition of Heartborn to be better than the print version?
No I love both. Print books are my first love but audio books are what helps me get through my hour long commute
What did you like best about this story?
How did it was from anything else I've read lately. I really liked how I though I knew where the author was headed but my guess was wrong
Have you listened to any of Julia Whelan’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
No but I really loved how she brought the story to life
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
It didn't make me cry but it really made me think deeply about so much while listening to this
Any additional comments?
Was intrigued by this book when I first read the synapsis and was not disappointed at all.
Worth a credit and then some.
August 20, 2016
Of all the books I've reviewed, I find this to be the hardest one of all to write.
I almost wish, potential reader, that you knew nothing of what's to come. I wish you could be "pushed" into this vivid tale of pure agape, to see through your own thick layer of tears, the kind of sacrifice love can willingly make.
Although you'll find action, supernatural beings and unexpected twists, I hope as you read this book you won't let what you think Heartborn is about- color what it can be. I'll read this again. And I'll pass it along to my daughter.
I am anxiously waiting to see what happens next.
I almost wish, potential reader, that you knew nothing of what's to come. I wish you could be "pushed" into this vivid tale of pure agape, to see through your own thick layer of tears, the kind of sacrifice love can willingly make.
Although you'll find action, supernatural beings and unexpected twists, I hope as you read this book you won't let what you think Heartborn is about- color what it can be. I'll read this again. And I'll pass it along to my daughter.
I am anxiously waiting to see what happens next.
December 5, 2016
This was a great ya book. The author knows how to keep your attention and the story was beautifully written. I don't want to give away anything that the blurb didn't already say. This was one of those books that when your done you want more about the characters and definitely want to read the author again. The love in this book is awe inspiring, I just couldn't get enough of Keiron. The mission to find the truth is a journey you will love to be on. *Review for Sweet Spot Sisterhood*
August 25, 2016
I really really want to know; did I somehow manage to get a different ARC of this book than anyone else? Everyone else? Did I?
There will be a video review up on Wednesday with a non-spoiler review of why I really did not like this book.
Here is the link to my video review: https://youtu.be/aN1Mg4lBRUQ
There will be a video review up on Wednesday with a non-spoiler review of why I really did not like this book.
Here is the link to my video review: https://youtu.be/aN1Mg4lBRUQ
September 18, 2016
Pretty good story! it was a little slow at points but about midway through it really picked up and held your attention all the way up to the end. this was a different spin on the mythology which I thought was really interesting. I hope to see more of Livvy's story in later stories.
November 17, 2016
Review will be posted on the blog 11/20 at 9:00AM ET :) http://thereadingcat.weebly.com/
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