Restless Heart

by Wynonna Judd

The New York Times bestselling author and country music sensation presents her heartwarming debut novel.

Success on the musical stage is all Destiny ever wanted, and when she finds it, she feels as if her dreams have come true. But with the exhilarating rush of success comes a price-and a battle to recapture the traditions that were her foundation. Struggling to reconnect with the things that matter most, Destiny is putting an unexpected new spin on her own career-one that will redirect her professional and personal life in ways she never imagined. Written with genuine heart and emotion, Wynonna Judd's accessible debut novel is a celebration of family and friends, of love and loss, of success and surrender, and of one woman's inspiring path of self- discovery.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Music

320 pages, Hardcover

First published December 9, 2010

About the author

Wynonna Ellen Judd (born Christina Claire Ciminella) is an American country music singer. Her solo albums and singles are all credited to the singular name Wynonna. Wynonna first rose to fame in the 1980s alongside her mother, Naomi, in the country music duo The Judds. The duo released seven albums on Curb Records, in addition to charting twenty-six singles, of which fourteen were Number One hits.

After The Judds disbanded in 1991, Wynonna began a solo career, also on Curb. In her solo career, she has released eight studio albums, a live album and a compilation album, in addition to charting more than twenty singles of her own. Her first three singles — "She Is His Only Need", "I Saw the Light" and "No One Else on Earth" — all reached Number One on the U.S. country singles charts, as did 1996's "To Be Loved by You". Three of her albums are certified platinum or higher by the RIAA.

Wynonna is most recognized for her musical work, although starting in the 2000s, has also pursued other interests, including acting and philanthropy.

Reviews

[Michelle (MichelleBookAddict) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4★

This is written by country singer star Wynonna Jude. The story focuses on Destiny Hart with her point if view. Other characters have their point of view told also, like Seth (Destiny's boyfriend) and Destiny's parents. The relationship between the family members feels a little realistic and is heartwarming. Destiny's passion for music really stands out. It felt that Wynonna was Destiny at times. The relationship between Destiny and Seth felt very bland (though I did like Seth a lot). It didn't feel realistic because their relationship story was like the wallpaper in this book. The other details in the book were good and that's why I'm giving it 4 stars

[Bookaholics · Rating 4 out of 5]

Restless Heart by Wynonna Judd
Contemporary Romance - Jan 25th, 2011
3 1/2 stars

On a dare Destiny Hart enters to sing on the WKCX Kicks Country Kentucky Idol Search. But what she never realized is how much her life would completely change from then on. While on stage, Destiny discovers her true calling and promptly gives up college and moves to Nashville to pursue her dream.

Four years later, Destiny has hit rock bottom - she is still waiting on tables hoping for her big break. To make matters worse, her father has not yet forgiven her for foolishly giving up everything, and her friends have slowly drifted away from her life. Then all of sudden, Destiny gets discovered by a big name music executive. Romantically, she also starts dating one of her best friends, Seth, who is a dream come true. But between Seth and her career, which one will Destiny choose?

Wynonna Judd’s writing reminds me of Nicholas Spark: this is a warm, wholesome novel about a determined and spunky girl who believes in herself enough to chase her dream. There is some family drama in this novel, but you just know that it will all end well.

This book is especially recommended for readers who are curious about the music industry and how artists produce albums. Judd’s experience definitely lends extra depth to her writing. All in all, if you are looking for a heartwarming novel, Restless Heart will not disappoint.

Reviewed by Pauline from the Bookaholics Romance Club

[pianogal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh.

It's everything you'd expected - and not written particularly well. Just because someone is a successful singer doesn't mean she'll be a successful novelist. I figured this one would either be surprising witty and insightful - or it'd be super predictable tosh. Unfortunately, we got the later instead of the former.

Wy, oh why, oh Wy!

[Nan Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew???

I am a die hard country music fan in general & have a very specific affection for The Judds so when I saw Wynona's name as author I felt obliged to support her effort & read her book. I had absolutely no expectation that it would be more than a bucket list item for her to check off. Imagine my surprise!! Y'all this is a legit novel and I was so happily surprised I can't believe it!
The characters in this book are relatable and well developed. I think Wynona's personal experiences probably influenced the story lines but this isn't an autobiography. It's a really interesting read that held my attention from beginning to end. I'd definitely recommend this book to not only country music fans but to anyone who likes to settle down with a cup of coffee and a good read!

[June wing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learning how love can last!

I enjoy reading this book very much seeing how love can last. Seth never gave up on his love on her. Seth wanted her to become singing star. He supported her all the way and back off at the right time. Giving her the time she needed to become a star. I am so sorry I don't how to spell her name. That is why I keep using her or she. I read this book in 2 days I couldn't stop reading itself

[Alfred W. Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Restless Heart a romantic novel.

The novel is well written, but lacks any suspense. You can put the book down and there is no sense of anticipation to discover what is going to happen next. This lack of suspense makes it a rainy day read only for me!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great first novel by country star Wynona Judd. A lovely feel-good story about a young girl wanting to get her big break in the music industry and finding out how to balance a career with a relationship with the love of her life.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Country Legend writes a book about a new diamond in the rough being discovered and her rise to fame. It is a delightful story with relatable characters. I often found myself wondering when her own story and journey wove it's way into the book. It is a great little summer read.

[Jeanne (love2cook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a nice romance story! I like the characters, especially Seth and Destiny. They came to life on the pages of this book. I could see their lives being like Dolly and Dean's. Wouldn't that be something?

[Amber Wooddell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a very pleasant surprise. I usually don't read romance books at all but Wynonna Judd happens to be one of my favorite singers, so I thought why not. I could not put it down.

[Carol Nease]

Fair

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!

Being Wynonna Judd’s first book, it was fantastic!

The character’s are easy to love and I could relate to them.

[Kelsey]

Williston Library

[Dorine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will Destiny Hart’s ambition fulfill her dreams, or will she alienate everyone she cares about in the process? Experience is growth and sometimes distance truly does make a restless heart grow fonder.

Destiny Hart’s future changed the day that one of her high school friends entered her name into a singing contest, hosted in her hometown by a local radio station in Wilmot, Kentucky. Invited to observe the competition by three of her friends, Destiny is shocked when she hears her name announced as one of the contestants! Never being one to turn down a dare, she faces her fear and bravely sings her heart out on stage.

Destiny unbelievably wins the state competition and moves on to the national finals. She doesn’t win the nationals, but places as a runner-up. The state prize money and the national runner-up prize money combined give her the courage to move to Nashville in hopes of making it in the music industry. It’s a tough business and like other star hopefuls, she ends up waiting tables at a bar, eager for that big break to sing on stage. Alienated from her family and friends, Destiny questions how long she can continue working alone toward her dream.

She keeps her waitress job in Nashville a secret from friends and family, implying that her music career is taking off, but they soon suspect something. It’s confirmed when her high school crush, Seth, unexpectedly comes into the bar while Destiny’s waiting on tables. Seth hadn’t been very supportive of her move to Nashville, so she doesn’t have high hopes that seeing him again will help them renew their friendship. Or, renew more than friendship if Destiny’s secret wishes come true.

Fate sometimes messes with our hopes and dreams by putting people, obstacles and opportunities in our path all at once, at what seems like the wrong moment. This is what happens to Destiny, and RESTLESS HEART is about how her choices may or may not ruin her future, and more importantly, make her happy.

Will Destiny find a way to have everything she wants, or will her dreams change through experience?

Wynonna Judd’s novel is a realistically portrayed peek into the music business, filled with soul. If you’re looking for sordid details or scathing double-crossing in a business which you might think of as cutthroat, then you will be disappointed. Destiny’s journey isn’t perfect, nor is it easy, but it always has an underlying message of hope. I was pleasantly surprised at this delightfully unexpected aspect.

RESTLESS HEART is a “feel good” story, but there are several characters within the novel who give it some heartbreaking moments. This adds to the story, and by the end I was rooting for everyone, even if at the beginning I didn’t think they deserved anyone’s best wishes. That’s what I enjoyed most about RESTLESS HEART — the growth from within, of more than one character, deftly demonstrates that nothing worthwhile is ever easy. It hits home, and you can’t help but speculate how much of this book may be based on Wynonna’s real-life experiences.

If I had a daughter who had dreams with impossible odds, I’d want her to read this book. Is there romance? Absolutely and more than one, but so much more kept me riveted to the pages. RESTLESS HEART is the perfect inspiration for anyone who knows ambition and the hard work it takes to fulfill a dream while keeping balance in your life. This engaging story compelled this restless heart to shed a tear during the poignant moments just before the endearing end. Great book!

Review Courtesy of Romance Junkies.

[Lindsay Allyson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really disappointed with this book. It's not that I expected amazing writing skills from Judd, but I expected more after the prologue and first chapter. The characters were set up so well and the descriptions were really great. There was so much personality and I really loved it. However, as the book went on, the characters lost some of their spunk and they became flat.

I think the book would have benefited greatly from more of a romance structure. It is so close to being a romance that I think that going that format would have made this a really strong contemporary romance. There was so much sexual tension between Destiny and Seth and I wanted to see some of the action!

I'm not gonna lie, I skipped about 100 pages towards the end because I just didn't need to keep reading about Destiny and Seth missing each other. Not if I wasn't going to get a good payout at the end. I didn't. What we got was a bunch of tears and weak, generic sentiments.

[Suelibevg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fiction book from the country star that is well written. The title page lists LuAnn McLane as a contributor. This is Destiny Hart's story. On a dare she sings in a local contest and wins, her friend had entered her and not told her. She pursues her dream of a singing career and moves to Nashville, against the advice of almost everyone around her. A chance meeting with a high school friend at the bar she works at coincides with a career break. Seth remains a hometown boy, and as Destiny's star explodes, she has to balance her relationship with him as well as her father's disapproval of her choices. Unexpected twists occur in the story, you need to read it to find out. I had to finish it to see what happens. You won't be disappointed.

[Gigi Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Thoughts...

While shopping at a bookstore that was going out of business about a year ago, I was surprised when I came across this book for $1.00, and since it was by Wynonna Judd, (I didn't even know she was an author) I decided to throw it in the basket with the other books I purchased that day.

As I was reading it I wondered if some of the things she wrote about mirrored her own life somewhat. It was a fast read, I read it this long, cold wintery day. I wouldn't say it was a 5 star reading experience, but I liked it enough to award it 3 stars.

This book is a part of my personal library.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Surprisingly enough, this book was highly predictable and there for not incredibly enjoyable... This book is also written by LuAnn McLane, who has written a couple of my favourite contemporary southern romance authors so I was truly looking forward to reading a book that she has had some part in. At first the similarities are kind of hidden, but as the story goes on it is very clear that this book is the same as "A Little Less Talk A Lot More Action" by McLane. The differences are very few and far between. If you have read McLane's "A Little Less Talk" you can probably skip this one because they are pretty identical. Glad I borrowed this from my library. Not completely blown away...

[Nicole Galbraith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, a sweet love story; however it is obvious that it is not written by a professional writer. Destiny Hart has been struggling to make it in Nashville and finally gets her big break as her high school crush reenters her life. She must try to find a way to balance her dreams and love. The characters and plots are likeable, but could've been more developed. Months would pass by between chapters and the reader got very little explanation of what the characters were doing during that time. It left the reader wanting to know more.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading "Restless Heart". I love country music and it was no suprise that Wynonna would write a book about a country singer.

On a dare Destiny Hart sings "America the Beautiful" on the WKCX Kicks Country Kentucky Idol Search. She gives up college to pursue her dreams as a country music singer. Her father is not to happy with her decision and it puts a strain on her parent's marriage.

4 years later she is living in Nashville, Tennessee working as a waitress at Back in the Saddle Bar and Grille.

[Leonel · Rating 2 out of 5]

https://leonelescota.wordpress.com/20...

“Restless Heart” was written by country singer Wynonna Judd. Unfortunately, that’s the only unique thing you can say about the book. It’s a run-of-the-mill romance story that you have read before – a story of a struggling singer who works as a waitress who gets a big break and then hits big time. Will fame be a hindrance to her finding true love? Judd has a great flair for setting up Nashville, and once can sense her

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I decided to read this because I think Wynonna Judd is one of the most prolific singers out there. That lady can sing! I wanted to see if she could write. Yes, she can. It's about a young woman who finds her way through the world of country music but must make hard decisions concerning life, love, and home. Don't we all, whether we are in the music business or involved in something else?

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

of course I devour anything Wynonna! this was a simple story of rags to riches but yet still captivated me. I'm not sure if that was because of great writing or the fact that I felt it was semi biographical for Wynonna though. a lot of the feelings and emotions felt by the main character tell a story about Wynonna herself so I found it fascinating. Her feelings towards fans, stage anxiety, etc are pieces of Wynonna's story coming out in this novel.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this book, a first from singer, composer, Wynonna Judd. And I hope that she writes more. Because Wynonna has experienced personally what the key character goes through in the country music world gave a glimpse of what life in that arena can be like.

As I said, I hope she will write more books. She knows how to tell a story.

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun story of a woman struggling to find her way in the music industry in Nashville, TN. I thought it would be a fun read before going to the Country Music City for a few days in the summer. The struggle for finding balance in life and love while not losing oneself with the pressures of becoming a star were well display through the book. A great summer read!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this. I wasn't expecting much...I know Wynonna can sing but, this being her first book, I wondered whether she could write. I sometimes wondered if she was writing from personal experience....how closely did the story of Destiny Hart mirror that of Wynonna Judd. I'm kind of hoping she writes more stories. This one was particularly good for a first time.

[Peg · Rating 5 out of 5]

for a first book, i thought this one was awesome. i could not put it down. it had heartache and tears, hard work and big breaks, but it also had dreams coming true in the end and destiny having it all :) was a great book! would recommend it to anyone that likes romance.

[Karen B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the all too real story about two young lovers trying to overcome the difficulties of making time for each other when their separate careers pull them apart. The characters were real and likeable, the storyline filled with enough drama and emotion to keep the reader interested.

[Tera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the fact that Wynonna Judd wrote this book, so I had to read it. I loved it! Very good for her first book; I look forward to the next one, and hopefully there will be a next one. She is a great writer as well as a singer.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved Wynonna and wasn't sure what to expect from this book but it is a great book about the dreams of a young girl wanting to be a singer & the ups & downs that goes with it with her relationship with her family, friends & the man she loves. GREAT book!