What do you think?
Rate this book
The Hearts We Leave Behind: A Novel
Can an old story change the course of a young woman’s life?
From the bestselling author of The Keeper of Stars and The Long Road Back to You comes a story that will have you believing in destiny.
Following a split from her longtime fiancé, 29-year-old Nora Dawson relocates from her hometown of Trafford, Alabama, to the picturesque town of Brentwood, Tennessee. There, nestled the rolling green hills, she takes a job at a retirement facility, where she makes some unexpected friends, among them a cantankerous old man named Fred Carlisle. Despite his prickly exterior, Fred holds a lifetime of stories, one of which will change the course of Nora’s life forever.
Get ready to laugh, cry, and fall in love with Nora’s journey as she discovers that sometimes the rockiest paths lead to the most beautiful destinations.
From the bestselling author of The Keeper of Stars and The Long Road Back to You comes a story that will have you believing in destiny.
Following a split from her longtime fiancé, 29-year-old Nora Dawson relocates from her hometown of Trafford, Alabama, to the picturesque town of Brentwood, Tennessee. There, nestled the rolling green hills, she takes a job at a retirement facility, where she makes some unexpected friends, among them a cantankerous old man named Fred Carlisle. Despite his prickly exterior, Fred holds a lifetime of stories, one of which will change the course of Nora’s life forever.
Get ready to laugh, cry, and fall in love with Nora’s journey as she discovers that sometimes the rockiest paths lead to the most beautiful destinations.
264 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 10, 2025
170 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Buck Turner
26 books760 followersBuck is a beloved storyteller, best known for his diverse writing style and subject matter. Author of the bestselling romance novels The Long Road Back To You and I'll Wait, Buck explores both the pleasure and the pain that come with finding that once-in-a-lifetime love, and the lengths we'll go to keep it.
As a graduate of Lincoln Memorial University, Buck holds a Fine Arts degree as well as an MBA. Having spent his childhood in East Tennessee, Buck focuses on what he knows best-the south, including its rich traditions, diverse characters, and religion. When he's not busy writing, Buck enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, fishing, drawing, and painting.
As a graduate of Lincoln Memorial University, Buck holds a Fine Arts degree as well as an MBA. Having spent his childhood in East Tennessee, Buck focuses on what he knows best-the south, including its rich traditions, diverse characters, and religion. When he's not busy writing, Buck enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, fishing, drawing, and painting.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 27, 2025
An enjoyable story by a wonderful storyteller.
I enjoyed this book very much. Buck Turner is such a good storyteller. There were a couple of things that were predictable. But it was such a beautiful story I didn’t care. I recommend it to everyone who likes to read about love, family, and faith.
I enjoyed this book very much. Buck Turner is such a good storyteller. There were a couple of things that were predictable. But it was such a beautiful story I didn’t care. I recommend it to everyone who likes to read about love, family, and faith.
August 26, 2025
an excellent read about obligations and love
Sometimes love lasts for a lifetime, but often,, as in this story, it began when two people fell in love during World War II, but fell apart as the war ended. Can two people keep their love, Intact even though they become married, but not to each other. This book will keep you getting until the very end.
Sometimes love lasts for a lifetime, but often,, as in this story, it began when two people fell in love during World War II, but fell apart as the war ended. Can two people keep their love, Intact even though they become married, but not to each other. This book will keep you getting until the very end.
September 26, 2025
Beautiful Story
Another wonderful book! I have now read at least six of Buck Turners’ novels. They have all been excellent. He never disappoints.
Another wonderful book! I have now read at least six of Buck Turners’ novels. They have all been excellent. He never disappoints.
July 24, 2025
Mr Carlisle
This was another great Love story from Buck Turner . I loved it & all his books . I would highly recommend it to anyone .
This was another great Love story from Buck Turner . I loved it & all his books . I would highly recommend it to anyone .
July 28, 2025
heatwarming!
This book closed giving me a heart full of love. such a sweet sweet story !I will remember for a long time to come!
This book closed giving me a heart full of love. such a sweet sweet story !I will remember for a long time to come!
August 5, 2025
Wonderful!
What an outstanding book this was. Buck Turner is an amazing author and storyteller. I can’t wait to read more of his books. I’m definitely a fan.
What an outstanding book this was. Buck Turner is an amazing author and storyteller. I can’t wait to read more of his books. I’m definitely a fan.
September 4, 2025
Great story!
September 5, 2025
Obvious plot yet still a sweet story.
November 3, 2025
I enjoyed this novel more than any of his other novels I have read. Rose is such an amazing character in the background of this novel! She has this pull of suspense where we must think about her life and how she shaped it by her honest views. Rose is someone who knows people can be so judgmental in life. She protects herself by being a private person. Her history is important to her, and her family is more important. Rose has loved three men in her life deeply. However, one returns, a little late, but he knows who he really loved the most during his life. His passion comes through via his art. Something he gave up for a while. His last gift is such an amazing touch in this novel.
The garden is a wonderful gift to give a special person in your life. The honesty inside these pages is so touching and real as the story unfolds about love, true friendship, and keeping one's promises. The setting for revealing what a soldier went through is also well done. This man, who survived so much, is the real story here. His faith in doing what he set out to do is so remarkable. He lost his freedom to live on his own, but he finds a way to get it back through his art, his trust, and lost love.
The many characters in this book are truly well thought out and bring the story to the pages. Rose is my favorite, but also her granddaughter, and how she handled her life decisions. The struggle with her best friend betraying her. She put things behind her and moved forward, even though it deeply hurt her. She was faithful to see it through, no matter what happened with her friend and her ex. She handled it well and set him straight. She moved on and put him where he belonged, behind her. I also admired the two people putting the show together for Nora. They helped her make Fred Carlisle's dream come true.
Fred's two daughters seemed a bit self-centered by taking him from his home. However, this helped him meet Nora. They came back to help Nora find his lost artwork. So, they redeemed themselves.
Nora's heart healed, and she found true love. Her destiny comes to her. Nora Dawson proves to be a strong female like Rose. She follows her dreams. Nora discovers kinship with Fred while taking an interest in him. The ribbon was the key to unlock so much!
The garden is a wonderful gift to give a special person in your life. The honesty inside these pages is so touching and real as the story unfolds about love, true friendship, and keeping one's promises. The setting for revealing what a soldier went through is also well done. This man, who survived so much, is the real story here. His faith in doing what he set out to do is so remarkable. He lost his freedom to live on his own, but he finds a way to get it back through his art, his trust, and lost love.
The many characters in this book are truly well thought out and bring the story to the pages. Rose is my favorite, but also her granddaughter, and how she handled her life decisions. The struggle with her best friend betraying her. She put things behind her and moved forward, even though it deeply hurt her. She was faithful to see it through, no matter what happened with her friend and her ex. She handled it well and set him straight. She moved on and put him where he belonged, behind her. I also admired the two people putting the show together for Nora. They helped her make Fred Carlisle's dream come true.
Fred's two daughters seemed a bit self-centered by taking him from his home. However, this helped him meet Nora. They came back to help Nora find his lost artwork. So, they redeemed themselves.
Nora's heart healed, and she found true love. Her destiny comes to her. Nora Dawson proves to be a strong female like Rose. She follows her dreams. Nora discovers kinship with Fred while taking an interest in him. The ribbon was the key to unlock so much!
October 31, 2025
A beautiful story about fate, lost love, second chances and hope. When Nora moves to Nashville for a new job at a long term facility, her life is in shambles, she left her fiancé Jeremy after he was unfaithful. So she jump starts her life by moving from her small town, starts a new job as a nurse and hopes that she can start anew. Then she meets Mr. Carlisle, a grumpy, terminally ill patient and starts a friendship with him. I loved the story and the message it holds that love comes when you least expect it, and that it's never too late. Loved the audiobook!
December 29, 2025
Another great book
Wow! What a powerful and captivating character driven story. From the opening note left in the house to the ending note left behind, Nora's story intrigued me as I rooted for her in every way. Interweaving the past and present with Mr Carlisle led to an interesting twist even if a bit predictable. Read this book it is inspiring and fun!
Wow! What a powerful and captivating character driven story. From the opening note left in the house to the ending note left behind, Nora's story intrigued me as I rooted for her in every way. Interweaving the past and present with Mr Carlisle led to an interesting twist even if a bit predictable. Read this book it is inspiring and fun!
January 31, 2026
It was a good dual story. I don’t generally think much about writing style, but the way some random sentences seemed overly descriptive, but then a big event was only described in a small paragraph after a it was build up just seemed odd to me.
February 6, 2026
True love!!
What a great story! The characters were true to life and very lovable! This was my third book of Mr. Turner's and equally as good as the first two! This story about love and life was very, very good! Five stars!!!
What a great story! The characters were true to life and very lovable! This was my third book of Mr. Turner's and equally as good as the first two! This story about love and life was very, very good! Five stars!!!
October 28, 2025
Loved it!
Buck Turner has a way of making you laugh and yet shed a tear here and there! This was a good read and I highly recommend it.
Buck Turner has a way of making you laugh and yet shed a tear here and there! This was a good read and I highly recommend it.
November 18, 2025
almost boring…. way to predictable and unreal.
This is the second book that was authored by Buck Turner and it also left me unhappy with the content….
This is the second book that was authored by Buck Turner and it also left me unhappy with the content….
December 5, 2025
this was such a good book. life is happy and sad all rolled up in one. I do believe in true love.
January 4, 2026
Great storytelling by Buck Turner as usual. Some of the story was predictable but I didn’t mind since the story was a sweet love story. Easy feel good book that I would recommend to readers.
January 26, 2026
Secrets
I loved this story that intertwined lots of little pieces to make a great ending! Buck Turner has become one of my too go to authors for a great read.
I loved this story that intertwined lots of little pieces to make a great ending! Buck Turner has become one of my too go to authors for a great read.
November 28, 2025
Such a good book!
The story of Nora and the people she loves. It’s one of those stories that is just so heartwarming! 5 stars!
The story of Nora and the people she loves. It’s one of those stories that is just so heartwarming! 5 stars!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews