The Heart's Song

by Winnie Griggs

Widower Graham Lockwood hasn't stepped foot in church since he lost his family. So he can't possibly say yes to his new neighbor's request that he lead the handbell choir. But widowed mother Reeny Landry is so hopeful—and her fatherless children so in need—that Graham agrees to help. Suddenly, the man who closed himself off is coming out of his shell. And he finds himself acting the father figure to Reeny's sweet mute daughter and loner son. But going from neighbor to husband is another matter altogether. Until a loving family teaches Graham to hear the heart's song.

Genres: Love Inspired, Christian Fiction, Romance, Inspirational

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Winnie Griggs grew up in south Louisiana in an undeveloped area her friends thought of as the very back of beyond. With her two younger siblings and another family of two siblings for playmates, she spent many an hour exploring the overgrown land around her home, cutting jungle trails, building forts and frontier camps, and looking for pirate ships on the nearby bayou.

Once she ‘grew up’ she found other outlets for dealing with all those wonderful, adventurous imaginary friends by filling notebooks with their stories. And somewhere along the way, those scribblings gave way to full length stories.

Eventually she found her own Prince Charming, a rancher whose white steed takes the form of a tractor and whose kingdom is situated in a small rural community that she loves to call home, and together they’ve built their own storybook happily-ever-after. Their lives together expanded to include four now grown children who share Winnie’s vivid imagination and her husband’s steadier influences and are now out in the world pursuing their own adventures.

Winnie shares her stories with readers through her writings for Love Inspired and Love Inspired Historical books. You can learn more about Winnie at www.winniegriggs.com

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for an uplifting feel good book, I highly recommend by Winnie Griggs. I fell in love with Reeny and Graham at the start. Reeny is the most optimistic character I've ever met. And Graham -- well, Graham is my kind of nice guy. I hope there's a sequel.

[Abbey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out of all her books that I have read this one was disappointing. I think the whole way Grahams wife died seemed far fetched. Preeclampsia in the third trimester is normal but a doctor recommending an abortion give me a break. I had preeclampsia and the way to remedy is to deliver the baby. When I read something like that I just lose interest.

[Sarah TheAromaofBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usually these Love Inspired books are just too cheesy for words, but this one was actually pretty solid. I liked the characters, and the story was done well. I would have liked to have seen a little more resolution for Graham's spiritual situation, beyond just, "Oh, I'm good now!" but otherwise a pleasant and relaxing read.

[Dora Okeyo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book about forgiveness and moving on after losing a loved one. I bought this book because of twp things: the cover page and a review. I heard a friend say that she'd seen on the 'to read list' given by their church pastor, on moving on after death.
It is beautifully written and it begins with Graham, who leaves his town St. Louis for a small towm Tippanyville, to be a Math teacher. He's trying to move on after losing his wife and their unborn child, and he thinks this town would be the ideal place to start, but he meets Renny, whose mother to Phillip and Desiree. Desiree was born mute but she takes to liking Graham and they become friends. Renny having lost her husband too is trying to hold a memorial for him and things seem to be going downhill untill Graham shows up. He agrees to beccome an assistant director for the Handbell choir she sets up and with time he forgets about his anger towards God and starts back on that relationship.
It is a good read, like most novels that are romance based-it does have a happy ending. It made me wonder however what would have happened if Renny gave up on Graham, because he was hard to figure out and he'd be jovial then turn cold, so I think it would have been better if Graham did not warm up that easily to Renny.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who's going through the same and asking if things would get better for them. Losing someone you love is not easy, so is moving on, but somehow you just have to get the strength to do it, and that's what The Heart's Song was about.

[Ausjenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly thanks Winnie for this book. I won it in a contest and got to choose which book I want. From the first time I heard of this book and then all the interviews I really wanted to read this book. The book didn't disappoint. The book features Reeny and Graham who have both lost their life partners. Reeny also has been given the chance to do something to honor her husbands memory. She has a dream of a handbell chior. Her daughter is mute and this is something she can participate in. Graham is running from the loss of his wife and anyone he knows as well as God. The last thing he wants is to be involved in this choir. I have to add a mother in law who has other ideas to honor her son. I enjoy the story and how it played out. Loved Reeny's daughter. I would love to hear a handbell choir and this book had me wanting to be in one. This is a special story and one I am so glad I got to read.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy Winnie Griggs stories because of their sweet, gentle atmosphere. The Heart's Song is like a big bar of Godiva chocolate, you want to devour the whole thing at once but you know you will get more pleasure by savoring each chapter. This is a carefully woven story of two lovely people who have truly loved, suffered loss, and then carry on, one turning away from God and tbe other leaning steadfastly on Him. Their relationship develops and builds to a true test of faith and the affirmation that God is there every step of the way. I liked the Louisiana flavors of the characters and community and midway through the book, simply had to go out and buy a muffeletta. Yum. I recommend both the book and the sandwich - delightful and fulfilling.

[Michele Minor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet story about how a handbell choir can be used for healing in the community. When Reeny Landry's husband died there was some money left for her to memorialize him. She chooses to start a handbell choir that can minister to both the community and those in it. When widower Graham Lockwood comes to town he is recruited to help her with the handbell choir. He also has some hurt from the death of his wife and small daughter where he is mad at God for their deaths. He also starts to act as the father figure of Reeny's two children. As the two of them work on the handbell choir they discover that they are attracted to each other.

[Lisa]

I really enjoyed this story. Reeny and Graham, and several of the other characters, are very relatable, and though you may never have/plan to visit Louisiana, you actually feel right at home. An afternte from Ms. Griggs says that this was her first "foray into wirting about contemporary times...." Well, brava, cherie, brava!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ove these Love Inspired books! They are nice and easy to read.

[Victoria Bylin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm loving this story!

[Patti Powell95 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the kids but it was a little sappy even for the weekend reading.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about a start-up handbell choir!

[Kelly Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific story and writer.