To Heal a Heart

Rating: 3.5/5.0<br /><br /> There are many delightful characters in this story, several of whom readers will get to know better in the other books in this series.<br /><br />Read full review in the <a href="https://indtale.com/reviews/contemporary/heal-heart-masonville-series-book-2" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">2020 Summer issue of InD'tale Magazine.</a>

Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review<br />4.5 stars.<br />“To Heal a Heart”, by Jana Richards (The Wild Rose Press), is a lovely romance, a pleasure to read, with wonderful, relatable characters and an amazingly realistic and well written wounded hero.<br />The romance between Garrett and Blair is sweet and the way they reconnect and the attraction grows so believable.<br />Above all, I think Jana Richards wrote superbly Garret’s problems adapting to civilian life, the social anxiety, the fears and nightmares, and how his physical wound implies a new self-image, way of thinking and doing things. And all these issues matter to the plot.<br />The care and attention depicting how he deals with all this, the adaptation and doing things differently required in several tasks (doing something as basic as sitting in a tight table), is just amazing and shows a lot of research by the author on these matters. It’s rare to find a disability so interwoven with the plot and it’s such a great contrast to all those fishy wounded heroes who move like supermen after their injuries…<br />I loved the story, the setting and all the characters. Perhaps the professional path to Garrett came a bit too easily, but he and Blair had so much pain in the past and they surely deserve happiness.

A beautiful emotional story full of pain, healing and second chances. I enjoyed the story and loved the healing of the characters it was touching and emotional.

To Heal A Heart Jana Richards' story of two people who were meant to be together but don't trust their own gut feelings grabbed me. The grab was a gradual deepening awareness of the depth of the story, the realization that the characters held secrets. Secrets are lethal because when we have them, we can't open up to even the people who are most important in our lives.<br /><br />One of the strengths of this author is her ability to make her minor characters come alive. That includes the grandfather, friends of the main characters, and yes, the animals. Horses and dogs are important characters too, and it was heartening to discover and follow the subplots that made the main story strong and relatable.<br /><br />I have never had friends suffering from PTSD. (Not that I recall.) This book surprised me. I came to understand so much about PTSD from the skilled way the author presented these characters and the demons they battled.<br /><br />Five stars for this story! First, someone gets what they deserve. (I'm using "they" because I don't want any spoilers in this review) Second, bravo for a powerful and satisfying ending and for wrapping up all the threads. I'm sure there will be another book in the Masonville series. Looking forward.

This is a well thought out complex story that pulls you right in. Richards’ characters are funny and multi-layered. Like us all, the characters have issues. Some are at the surface, it the ones that can’t we can’t hide, the underbellies, they are the most interesting. <br /><br />You will meet a cast of characters that is for sure but not so many that you feel overwhelmed. Our, main character, Blair, the h has a whopper set of parents. Well, her brothers and grandpa are great. You see she is the only though in Masonville, North Dakota caring for grandpa. Bad ticker as they used to say.<br /><br />Garrett is the love interest since she was fifteen and hung with her brothers and never even noticed her. This time when they meet like did, only on summer breaks, they have no clue who the other is. Garrett’s injury in the line of duty so left the Marines looking harsh. Blair, it seems grew up and filled in.<br /><br />Their meeting was over a misunderstanding on Blair’s part. In this case, it turns out to be a very good thing. One that changes both their lives forever.<br /><br />I give this: 5++++ stars. Provide by netgalley.com. Follow us at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="http://www.1rad-readerreviews.com">www.1rad-readerreviews.com</a>

<strong>A must read </strong><br /><br />This is my first read from Ms. Richards and I absolutely loved it.<br />To Heal the Heart was a fantastic read.<br />I laughed, ugly cried and really enjoyed Garrett and Blair story.<br />This was a emotional roller-coaster for me I really related to Blairs story.<br />I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fantastic read with some emotional turns that leaves you with a feel good feeling after reading.

A story dealing with some strong issues and about learning to trust again. A well woven love story that is heartwarming and emotional. I highly reccomend this one. Very well written.

Good read but I wanted more feels.

The second book in The Masonville Series a well written story that kept me turning pages. Blair Greyson has buried something from her past down deep believing she will not be able to ever forgive herself for what happened. She meets Garrett Saunders a damaged Vet. can she get over the past and let herself find love? Read this book to find out. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Garrett is back home in rural North Dakota, but the horrors of his time in Afghanistan are still with him. Alcohol has become his drug of choice when he needs to forget. He rescues a broken down horse from the auction, realizing later that he doesn't have the space or patience to nurse Harry back to good health. Blair is back in Masonville to care for her elderly grandfather and his farm. Her job in town provides her with enough to care for her rescue horses. They make a trade that's beneficial to both of them - he'll work to help get the old barn ready for winter, and she'll board Harry, and feed Garrett while he's working. This story sucked me right away - from the moment I began reading, I couldn't put it down. The book is so emotional, with ugly tears on my part, some happy, some sad. The characters are flawed, and the setting is perfect. Garrett and Blair both live with horrendous guilt feelings - for different reasons, but both are heartbreaking. And both of them have erected huge walls around their lives and hearts. Once they begin to truly trust each other, those walls start to come down, and the love they find is total and all-encompassing. They both open their hearts to others in need of a place to heal, and I love the vision that her brother has. Everett showed more loving toward Blair than her parents ever did, and she did what she could to repay him. Damon and Ben, Blair's brothers, each have their own stories that are tough to deal with, yet the bond that these three siblings have with each other is beautiful. Their parents are self-absorbed and concerned with appearances, and what her mother forced Blair to do is unforgivable. The animals are all unique and funny, each in their own way, making a nice contribution to this story. The first book that I read from this author was a nice enough book, but this is the book that will move hearts, and stay with me for a long time.<br /><br />I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.