HALLIE'S HEART

Author: Shelly Beach ISBN: 9780825424366 1/2007 INSPIRATIONAL Publisher: KREGEL

Mona VanderMolen, an antique dealer in a small Michigan town, is trying to keep her business alive. As Mona faces the uncertainties of her own future, Hallie, Mona's fifteen-year-old niece, suddenly arrives on her doorstep. Guilt-ridden over her sister's drowning several years earlier, Hallie has run off to her aunt's cottage. As the two women work through their problems and learn to forgive, will an unfortunate accident tear them apart once again?

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

HALLIE'S HEART is an introspective, inspirational look at what it means to be a woman suffering from some of the most tragic things life can dish out. It showcases strong, intelligent women who come to terms with what's before them—all with the help of their strong faith. I very much enjoyed it, and believe anyone looking for a little reminder about faith and the power it holds will enjoy it too.

While HALLIE'S HEART is a slow-paced, character-driven story, it is by no means dull. The characters are deep and their motivations are clear. I loved watching Mona and Hallie negotiate; there is a passage (filled with enough eye-rolling to make anyone smile!) where they're getting ready for the beach and it is so wonderfully well-written it pops from the page. I could see it all, and I enjoyed every detail.

One of the best parts, I think, about this book is that it's circular. It begins at a point, and then it takes the reader on a journey before it ends up in a point very similar to the passage at the book's opening. Writing a story that connects like that must be a challenge. Ms. Beach does a fabulous job of giving every aspect of HALLIE'S HEART a purpose, and a point of reference.

Not only does HALLIE'S HEART have heart—it has soul.

Kay James