Bleeding Heart

October 15, 2013

Title: Bleeding Heart
Author: Amber Stokes
Publisher: Seasons of a Story
Pages: 212
ISBN: 9780618565331
Publication Date: September 3rd, 2013

Synopsis:
Five bleeding hearts. One profound journey.

Summer 1886

Sally Clay’s livelihood has been snatched away, but in its place arises an opportunity to escape from her sordid past and an unrelenting, unwanted suitor. Boarding a train with a heartsick rancher and an enigmatic miner, she leaves Virginia City behind and heads to Northern California, waiting for the chance to make right what went wrong three long years before.

But the road to revenge is far from smooth. Sally soon learns that the jagged pieces of a broken heart can far too easily wound the hearts of others – and hers isn’t the only heart that’s broken. Tragedy and fear dog her steps as she flees from the redwood forests to the high desert and back again. Will her bleeding heart ever find a way and a place to heal?

A desperate soiled dove. Three men who come to care for her. One man determined to claim her.

All on a journey that will show them what true love really involves.
Review:
Bleeding Heart is Amber Stokes' debut novel that will grip your heart with a mixture of sorrow and laughter. The emotions that Amber can portray in her story are true and you just ache and celebrate with each of the characters as the go through their trials and achievements.

The story follows Sally Clay as she escapes Virgina City, a three year nightmare, and what could be an even worse future. Sally sees an opportunity to leave with two friends, Joe and Myghal, who are leaving the mining city to try their hand at logging in the Red Wood Forest. Sally thinks she can make a new start in this mining camp and put the past three years behind her working with the cook of the camp. Sally is able to work there for a few weeks, but she isn't able to find the contentment she wants. She needs to move on and find the person who started her nightmare. Sally soon learns her journey isn't just for her alone. Joe and Myghal follow her, wanting to protect and help her if they can.

Bleeding Heart offers some surprises I couldn't have guessed and left me a little shocked. Mixed into the surprise was a bit of suspense. It is the perfect mixture that kept me turning the pages. Amber is also able to paint a beautiful picture of the landscape surrounding our cast of characters. The detail is wonderful and allows you see it and experience it right along with each character.

It was a touching story of over coming past hurts and healing the heart.
Too Read
4 out of 5

2 comments

  1. The best thing about this story was that Amber took risks. I was surprised by one "twist" in particular but was happy that in the end, things were upbeat. There is a lot of promise in the conclusion and that's just how a novel should end.

    Glad you enjoyed this, Kate! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rissi, I completely agree! I loved the risks that Amber took. It was fresh and not seen a lot of. I agree, it had a very good ending. :-)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by. Leave a word, leave a line, I would love to hear what you have to say.

Latest Instagrams

© The Shelf Life. Design by FCD.