Your Next Amazing Read is Here!! The Heart of Him by Katie Fox

Title: The Heart of Him

Author: Katie Fox

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: October 17, 2018 Cover Design: Najla Qamber Designs

Sixteen months ago, Cassidy Porter lost the love of her life.

Every day since has been a battle to carry on, but despite what her mother and sister say, she’s making progress—or is she?

When she receives an invitation to attend a banquet in honor of the organ donors and their recipients, she has every reason to guard what remains of her shattered heart.

Maybe this will be the closure she needs to finally mend its pieces.

For the last twenty-eight years, Samuel Copeland has been afraid to live.

Diagnosed with a genetic heart condition, he knows better than anyone that second chances don’t come along often. Since his transplant, he spends his days in the local coffee shop, watching and observing, trying to make sense of all he’s been given.

Grateful doesn’t begin to describe it.

When the opportunity to meet the person who was closest to his selfless donor presents itself—a chance to say thank you for saving him—he takes it.

What’s the worst that can happen?

Brought together by fate—or perhaps, something else entirely—the two form an unexpected bond, one that has them both asking: can two hearts be destined only to beat for each other?

My Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I promise you, there is beauty in the broken."

Overwhelmingly wonderful, poignantly heartfelt and deeply introspective are what come to mind in describing The Heart of Him. It’s been five days and seven other books since I’ve finished this one, and the broken characters, their insurmountable obstacles and their heart-rending emotions are still woven throughout my heart and mind. This is one that touches deeply, lingers long and causes one to question ideals and beliefs that were previously firmly cemented.

Sam's life work has been piecing together bits of broken glass to form something new, whole and beautiful. Never has he longed to be able to apply his talents more than to mend Cassi’s shattered heart. If only there weren’t so many roadblocks in his way. She’s still grieving the loss of the love of her life, a man whose generous gift of organ donation has given Sam a second chance, a man whose heart beats in Sam's chest. But Cassi sees a kindred spirit in Sam, a man who is alive but not really living.

Sam and Cassi are two characters who are hauntingly, beautifully broken, both mired in grief, loss and guilt. Cassi describes herself as “A girl who was lost in her own grief and drowning in sorrow . . . everything I was and the person I had become vanished. I was an empty shell of the person I used to be . . . I couldn’t find the shore. I was stuck in this vast ocean of guilt and sadness, and all I wanted was for someone to pull me from the water, to bring me back to dry land.”

Sam's situation is just as bleak, and has been since he lost his mother at age nine. Add to that a congenital heart problem and Sam has been drifting, unmoored in life, merely existing in shades of gray, rather than experiencing life in vibrant color. But Cassi, even in her pain and grief, brings color, and so much more, to Sam's life. He says about Cassi, “. . . she brought my boring world to life. She gave meaning where logic confused—hope where reality discouraged. She reminded me life was precious.” But no matter how close they become, how much they forgive the past and turn loose of the guilt, or how much their hearts beat for each other, Cassi may never forgive Sam once he reveals his deepest, darkest secret.

I can’t begin to explain to you the profound depth of emotion in this book. It ensnares the reader from the very first page, holding her captive as the story unfolds, a prisoner to the characters’ pain and loss, their quiet desperation and unfathomable grief. Bound by a fragile hope and a wary love, with a promise of redemption and an ultimate healing. Cassi and Sam completely, utterly overwhelmed my senses, devastated my heart, and stained my soul, only to restore my faith and leave me in awe of destiny, the human spirit and the heart's capacity for healing.

Their story is the polar opposite of what we’ve come to expect in contemporary romance writing, and I’ll warn you now, you won’t come away unscathed. But have no fear, this book is sooo worth it. This, that Cassi says about the human heart, gives a taste of what awaits you: “No matter how shattered they [hearts] appear, they can be recreated into something new—something just as stunning and equally breathtaking.” Prepare for your own heart to break and your soul to weep, and then hold tight as this exquisitely unique, poignantly beautiful journey carefully, tenderly knits you back together, all the better for having experienced it.

Y'all, my review doesn't begins to do this book justice. Over a week later and my heart is still hung over. It definitely makes my list of top five books for the year, and you really don't want to miss this one! Until next time, dear reader

Much love between the covers,

BookAddict

*See my other reviews here.

Excusing himself to the restroom, Bob stood from the table and disappeared.

I pulled in a shallow breath at the momentary reprieve, my hand coming up and sliding across my breast bone as if it would magically release the pressure sitting there, and something caused my eyes to shift. I glanced over at the door, watching as a woman entered the hall.

Could this be? No. No way. She’s too…

What? What the hell was she?

Looking hesitant—her hand clenched around the strap of her purse—she padded over to the registration table. Natalie greeted her in much the same way she’d greeted me, and as she pointed in my direction, my gut somersaulted.

My muscles tensed.

A small, authoritative voice ordered me to look away, but I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

Brown hair, a few shades lighter than black, framed the gentle curves of her face, resting on her shoulders and along her back. Equally dark lashes blinked in what I assumed was nervousness as warm chocolate eyes peered into the distance.

I swallowed the sudden lump of “oh fuck” in my throat as she walked straight toward table number four and forced my gaze away from her.

My heart beat like a drum, my leg and knee twitching as my pulse sped up beneath my skin.

God, please don’t let this be her. Please don’t let this be her.

I focused my attention on my empty plate, concentrating all my thoughts on anything but this girl, this woman, who continued to carefully maneuver her petite frame around the scattered tables. It wasn’t until I smelled the sweet combination of vanilla and sugar that I sensed she was right beside me, and I gingerly turned my head to look at her, eager to catch another glimpse.

Jesus, she was beautiful.

In the direct glow of the light, her fair complexion resembled that of a porcelain doll, and the absence of any heavy makeup confirmed her age wasn’t far from my own. There was something almost delicate about her, as if she were splintered glass on the verge of breaking, and for reasons I couldn't fathom or explain, I had this unusual urge to be the one to keep her together, to prevent her from falling completely apart.

Katie Fox was born in Florida and raised in Pennsylvania, where she still resides with her gamer husband and four-year-old son. An avid reader and hopeless romantic, she is a sucker for a good love story. When she isn't found spending time with her family, she typically has her nose buried in a book or is in her writing cave, giving life to the voices in her head. Since a very young age, writing has been her passion. Her works include, Moment of Weakness, World of Darkness, as well as her co-written titles, Whispers From The East and Beauty of a Monster.