Heart Strings

by Betty Jo Schuler

Keely Johannsen idolized Mark Jefferson from the time she was a little girl. He was everything she wasn' strikingly attractive, irresponsible, daring. They were friends, but then he took her to her first dance and gave her her first kiss. She was devastated when he died racing his Mustang down a residential street. Eight months later, she's still living in a grief-filled haze. She doesn't even look at boys until she meets a stranger outside Mark's house. Jonathan Michael Andrews III ("Tripp as in triple.") is about her age, tall, with light brown hair and coffee-colored eyes. He's everything Mark wasn' cautious, reliable, considerate. He even volunteers at the hospital, entertaining children in coronary care. Keely finds herself drawn to Tripp, to his sensitivity and honesty, and he seems drawn to her. She's delighted when she discovers he'll be spending the summer with his aunt, Mark's mother. Keely's heart starts to heal as she and Tripp grow closer, but as the summer reaches its peak, she discovers that Tripp is not who he says he is. He's been lying to protect a secret—a secret that could shatter Keely's heart all over "HEART STRINGS" is a unique story. Tender, moving, funny, gripping and intelligent, a perfect mix, excellently written with a wonderful ear for modern teenager's dialogs. The serious issues - organ donation, recklessness, honesty - melt seamlessly with the smoothly flowing plot. “HEART STRINGS” by Betty Jo Schuler will capture your heart for eternity. Is it ever okay to withhold the truth? Tripp finds it extremely difficult to confide in Keely his secret. Should he take a chance and tell her the heart transplant he received was donated by her recently deceased boyfriend? How will Keely react when she discovers the truth? Will she believe Tripp truly loves her, or will she think it's Mark's heart? This tale isn't for only Young Adults, I recommend it for all those hopeless romantics. Kim's ReviewsReviewed by Kim Gaona

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary Romance

106 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 9, 2012

Reviews

[Autumn Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

I accepted the book for review because, I thought it sounded like it would be a sweet story. AND...it was, but it was easy to put down and come back to. I felt there could have been more depth to the characters. I did like Tripp, but didn't see Mark's appeal at all. Keely was just, ok to me. She had such an idolized perception of Mark. We get a brief view of her history with him, but again, I didn't see the appeal. I did think Tripp and Keely's relationship was sweet. So, while I may have had some issues with the characters, I did enjoy the story.

[Rachel Costa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is definitely a book that you need to be in the correct age group to read, I think. It was cute, but it didn't catch my interest at all and I just kind of paged to the end without getting caught up in it.

[Laura's Book Addiction · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't finish. Will try and re-read later this year.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Also posted to Jen in Bookland

1.5 stars

Heart Strings is a quick and easy read, though not a particularly good one. It wasn't horrible, but I wouldn't recommend it either. Maybe you need to be younger to enjoy reading it. I don't know. Everything came together and worked out a little too easy. It wasn't really believable.

Keely is so hung up on Mark still, who died 8 months ago in a racing accident. Then suddenly Tripp shows up and she is almost instantly starting to like him. There were two brief freak outs, but then it was just like Tripp all the way for her. Alright I guess, but if you are so in love with Mark shouldn't it take a little more to get over him?

Then Tripp. I get his whole new lease on life thing, but he is pretty much instantly in love with Keely. I just didn't see it. He seemed like a nice guy, but there wasn't enough character development for me to really know either of these characters (or see a relationship between the two). Every time Keely and Tripp were together it felt a little...wooden? Something was just off so it didn't seem real. So I didn't really care about either of them. That and they are both keeping secrets which once found out cause a short freak out, but super quick and easy working everything out. All of the drama in the book also seemed a bit pointless. I don't know. It just wasn't a very good read for an adult. The end just left me shaking my head like really? It is that easy? Alright...well on to the next book.

[Elizabeth Randall · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is a very heartwarming book however I was relentless with the same things happening over an over again I had a hard time finishing this book it took me longer than normal the storyline was good one I havent come across in a book to date but the it was very long winded

[Heidi Karriker · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was more like a 2.5 but I'm a sucker for a happy ending.

[Autumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cute book but I just didn't find it very interesting.

[Erin. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Descent

Descent read. Good wee story to pass the time . Bit short but liked the thought behind it . .

[Betty Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.