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From Mourning to Dancing
Together, they find comfort in each other's chaos.
Jared Tomlin had it all – a promising future, a shot at the pros – until one tragic night shattered his dreams. On the heels of a career-ending injury, the only thing that makes life tolerable is spending time with Sammy, the best friend of his former crush. When she unexpectedly pulls on his heartstrings, Jared’s life becomes a whole new level of complicated.
Sammy “The Bull” Ballard has been called many things in her life – strong-willed, a friend, a fighter – but until her 18th birthday, “adopted” had never been one of them. Just when she was figuring her life out, her world spins off its axis, leaving her to question everything she knows. Her only solace is the unlikely support she finds in her friendship with Jared, the broken boy who seems to understand her all too well.
Facing their obstacles head-on, they decide to push through the whispers of their past. The pair contend with the powerful nature of love and the alluring might of God as they navigate heartache and commit to a shared mission that draws them together. When a new secret jeopardizes everything, they must decide to trust in God’s plan or fall apart for good.
*Renewed Hearts - Book Two. A Young Adult Christian Romance Novel.*
Jared Tomlin had it all – a promising future, a shot at the pros – until one tragic night shattered his dreams. On the heels of a career-ending injury, the only thing that makes life tolerable is spending time with Sammy, the best friend of his former crush. When she unexpectedly pulls on his heartstrings, Jared’s life becomes a whole new level of complicated.
Sammy “The Bull” Ballard has been called many things in her life – strong-willed, a friend, a fighter – but until her 18th birthday, “adopted” had never been one of them. Just when she was figuring her life out, her world spins off its axis, leaving her to question everything she knows. Her only solace is the unlikely support she finds in her friendship with Jared, the broken boy who seems to understand her all too well.
Facing their obstacles head-on, they decide to push through the whispers of their past. The pair contend with the powerful nature of love and the alluring might of God as they navigate heartache and commit to a shared mission that draws them together. When a new secret jeopardizes everything, they must decide to trust in God’s plan or fall apart for good.
*Renewed Hearts - Book Two. A Young Adult Christian Romance Novel.*
- GenresYoung Adult
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 2, 2025
About the author
Heather Camacho
4 books53 followersI write faith-based love stories with happily ever afters, real life grit and larger than life redemption. Oh, and I also love to read!
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 24, 2025
If you have not read any of Heather Camacho’s books you really should! She is a Christian author and these books certainly can touch your heart better than any other books I’ve read!
February 15, 2025
I preferred this one to the first book.
Heather Camacho weaves several narratives together here in satisfying fashion.
The character work is quite nuanced and well thought out. I think one particular highlight here is her depiction of teenage behavior. This book specifically captures teenage life within a specific culture with accuracy, sensitivity, and compassion.
Full disclosure: two things. First, I am not Christian, but I am deeply aware of Christian philosophy, especially with how young adults infuse the faith into their lives, and Heather Camacho captures this, too, respectably and with care.
And second, I know the author personally. I have done my best to remain unbiased, though, readers may note I choose to point out strengths within books rather than highlighting what might not work for me personally. I have found this approach to work best for me.
Yet she’s not afraid to tackle severe and darker themes. Themes young adults deal with all the time.
The romance here is a slow burn, and for me, that was a major strength. And I appreciated the inclusion of characters from the first book.
Like the first book, I strongly believe this book will appeal to its target demographic. And I believe it’s worth looking into for others outside the Christian YA reader demographic to give it a chance, see another point of view, even if you disagree with some of the philosophies, as I did.
Ultimately though, Heather Camacho proves again an honest writer with a love and care for telling good stories. She writes with a warmth and an affection for her characters I deeply admire.
Heather Camacho weaves several narratives together here in satisfying fashion.
The character work is quite nuanced and well thought out. I think one particular highlight here is her depiction of teenage behavior. This book specifically captures teenage life within a specific culture with accuracy, sensitivity, and compassion.
Full disclosure: two things. First, I am not Christian, but I am deeply aware of Christian philosophy, especially with how young adults infuse the faith into their lives, and Heather Camacho captures this, too, respectably and with care.
And second, I know the author personally. I have done my best to remain unbiased, though, readers may note I choose to point out strengths within books rather than highlighting what might not work for me personally. I have found this approach to work best for me.
Yet she’s not afraid to tackle severe and darker themes. Themes young adults deal with all the time.
The romance here is a slow burn, and for me, that was a major strength. And I appreciated the inclusion of characters from the first book.
Like the first book, I strongly believe this book will appeal to its target demographic. And I believe it’s worth looking into for others outside the Christian YA reader demographic to give it a chance, see another point of view, even if you disagree with some of the philosophies, as I did.
Ultimately though, Heather Camacho proves again an honest writer with a love and care for telling good stories. She writes with a warmth and an affection for her characters I deeply admire.
April 11, 2025
Jared + Sammy
Jared gets into an accident & Sammy really steps up in their friendship and helps him out. I loved watching these two fall for each other. It was so unexpected for them both but quite beautiful. Getting to see Jared fix his relationship with God was wonderful. He had to get things right with God first before anything else was going to work out for him. Both of the MC’s had deep rooted issues to work through but they also had great support systems. I really enjoyed this one and thought it was very well done. It had a lot of sweet moments 🤍
Added bonus was getting more of Kevin & Sarah’s story from book 1!
Favorite quotes -
Somewhere along the lines of our friendship, Sammy had become a champion at chasing my fears away.
This kiss—our real first one, if you asked me—now sealed the deal. It was the truest answer to every question I wanted to know, and each one I hadn’t thought to ask yet.
Content -
No foul language
Kissing only
Death of parent (off page)
Adopted MC
Strained relationship with family
Unplanned pregnancy from side character
Alcohol mentions
Jared gets into an accident & Sammy really steps up in their friendship and helps him out. I loved watching these two fall for each other. It was so unexpected for them both but quite beautiful. Getting to see Jared fix his relationship with God was wonderful. He had to get things right with God first before anything else was going to work out for him. Both of the MC’s had deep rooted issues to work through but they also had great support systems. I really enjoyed this one and thought it was very well done. It had a lot of sweet moments 🤍
Added bonus was getting more of Kevin & Sarah’s story from book 1!
Favorite quotes -
Somewhere along the lines of our friendship, Sammy had become a champion at chasing my fears away.
This kiss—our real first one, if you asked me—now sealed the deal. It was the truest answer to every question I wanted to know, and each one I hadn’t thought to ask yet.
Content -
No foul language
Kissing only
Death of parent (off page)
Adopted MC
Strained relationship with family
Unplanned pregnancy from side character
Alcohol mentions
February 18, 2025
“From Mourning to Dancing” is an exciting return to the characters I have grown to love. I was immediately drawn into this story as we pick up with Jared and Sammy, two characters we met in the previous story.
Heather has done an excellent job detailing the lives of these characters as their stories cross paths with Kevin and Sarah from her first book. The relationships of this circle of friends continue to grow, and I was excited to see their inclusion.
This is a story of trial, rejection, and uncertainty while finding one’s place in God's plan. If you enjoyed “From Graves to Gardens,” you will love this book.
Heather has done an excellent job detailing the lives of these characters as their stories cross paths with Kevin and Sarah from her first book. The relationships of this circle of friends continue to grow, and I was excited to see their inclusion.
This is a story of trial, rejection, and uncertainty while finding one’s place in God's plan. If you enjoyed “From Graves to Gardens,” you will love this book.
February 16, 2025
Heather once again knocks it out of the park with impressively written characters and plot points that many can relate to. I’ve probably said this before, but she has a way of writing characters to feel real and not just card board cut outs of book tropes.
Jared and Sammy are a great new set of protagonists, very distinct from Kevin and Sarah, but also along for the ride are the rest of their close circle. Touched on briefly in the previous book, this time they play bigger roles, bringing a nice support to the main characters. With their unique personalities and drama, they are a nice addition that I found myself enjoying and engaged with.
Jared and Sammy’s “slow burn” relationship is very believable and not full of your typical story tropes. I found myself rooting for them and even tearing up as I followed them on their journey of faith.
As before, the book isn’t preachy, but it does deliver on a satisfying message that many can appreciate.
And if you’re hesitant to pick this book up because it doesn’t follow Kevin and Sarah, don’t worry. This book solidifies the fact, that whatever characters Heather writes about, you’re going to be invested.
I can’t wait for the next installment. I won’t lie, I was hesitant to follow a new set of characters, but now I’m excited to see what stories the other books will bring.
And yes, Kevin and Sarah are in the book ;)
Jared and Sammy are a great new set of protagonists, very distinct from Kevin and Sarah, but also along for the ride are the rest of their close circle. Touched on briefly in the previous book, this time they play bigger roles, bringing a nice support to the main characters. With their unique personalities and drama, they are a nice addition that I found myself enjoying and engaged with.
Jared and Sammy’s “slow burn” relationship is very believable and not full of your typical story tropes. I found myself rooting for them and even tearing up as I followed them on their journey of faith.
As before, the book isn’t preachy, but it does deliver on a satisfying message that many can appreciate.
And if you’re hesitant to pick this book up because it doesn’t follow Kevin and Sarah, don’t worry. This book solidifies the fact, that whatever characters Heather writes about, you’re going to be invested.
I can’t wait for the next installment. I won’t lie, I was hesitant to follow a new set of characters, but now I’m excited to see what stories the other books will bring.
And yes, Kevin and Sarah are in the book ;)
February 25, 2025
From Mourning to Dancing by Heather Camacho is the second installment in a beautifully crafted series that follows a close-knit group of young friends in South Texas, each navigating their own trials. This book delves into the life of Sammy, a girl who appears to have everything in her favor yet wrestles with the deep struggle of self-acceptance. As she grows closer to Jared—another member of the group who also seems to have it all— she comes to understand that beneath his charming appearance lies the burden of a life-changing injury and the sorrow that has haunted him since his father's death.
Through its compelling narrative, the story offers poignant examples of unwavering relationships—both within families and among friends—illuminating the strength found in genuine connection. The conversations between adults and teens unfold with striking honesty, evoking moments of deep, heart-tugging reflection, leaving a lasting emotional impact. It illustrates how love and forgiveness can guide adolescents through life's toughest trials—truly an inspiring and unforgettable read.
Through its compelling narrative, the story offers poignant examples of unwavering relationships—both within families and among friends—illuminating the strength found in genuine connection. The conversations between adults and teens unfold with striking honesty, evoking moments of deep, heart-tugging reflection, leaving a lasting emotional impact. It illustrates how love and forgiveness can guide adolescents through life's toughest trials—truly an inspiring and unforgettable read.
February 15, 2025
This is the second book in the series and it's just as sweet and heartfelt as the first. The characters are perfectly flawed and completely believable. You want to root for all of them! Camacho does a wonderful job keeping the story moving and the reader engaged.
Highly recommend!
Highly recommend!
April 2, 2025
As always, another wonderfully written book by Heather! I love her detail and loved getting to see The Renewed Hearts series continue with another set of perspectives! This book can be easily read on its own, but I HIGHLY recommend reading the whole series and reading how God can change your world. Looking forward to the next one!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews