Thirty-two year old Megan Jacobs has spent most of her life wrapped in proverbial cotton wool, the result of a diagnosis of hypertropic cardiomyopathy. She spend much of her teenage years in hospital, watching National Geographic and the Travel Channel and daydreaming of a life travelling the world as a freelance journalist with her best friend and fellow heart patient, Caleb.

She received her heart transplant a year ago, but never followed her dreams despite Caleb—a successful freelance photographer—offering her an opportunity in London. Instead, she’s still stuck in her same old job and same old routines.

That changes following a meeting with her donor family.
Eighteen-year-old Amanda had everything to live for, as shown in her diary. It contains her 25-point bucket list, a list which inspires Megan to chase Amanda’s dreams even if she doesn’t have the courage to face her own.

Crystal is Megan’s identical twin. Except she’s always been healthy, and is now married to Brian, a firefighter, and working in her dream job as an up-and-coming architect in New York. She’s in line for a promotion, but her marriage is suffering, and her relationship with her twin is non-existent. So they’re off to visit five continents in five weeks, and hopefully rediscover their relationship, and themselves.

The Heart Between Us is excellent, both as armchair travel and as a novel that examines twin sisters, their ambitions, dreams, and relationships, and the way we sometimes make dumb choices because they are the safe choices,and how life doesn’t always work out as planned.

The writing was excellent, and I especially liked the way there were no easy answers. Both Megan and Crystal had to work through their problems, and both had to learn to turn to God. A great novel about the power of choices. Recommended.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A definite feel good read with some interesting characters. Megan and Crystal are twin sisters. Megan was born with a bad heart which resulted in her having a heart transplant in her twenties. She is a fearful young woman but when the opportunity presents itself for her to live out the bucket list of her donor she goes for it. Her sister Crystal on the other hand is a driven architect whose marriage is suffering from her dedication to her job. Crystal accompanies Megan on her bucket list tour and both learn some good lessons along the way.

This book was amazing! I loved the message of the book and how Megan grows over the course of the story. The bucket list of her heart donor was sad, and yet I loved the story.

4.5 stars

“God wants nothing more than to restore us…”

I expected this to be an inspiring story with lots of feels and travel adventures I could vicariously live through. And it is. But the concept of heart – and all it means for the different players – and the healing that is painted on these pages far exceeded my expectations.

I absolutely love Megan. She is such a layered character with a sweet personality and more courage than she gives herself credit for. After being sick for so long, she is finally able to live a full life but fear has been holding her back. As she connects with her donor’s family and gets to know her donor via the journal Amanda left behind, she is inspired to complete the teenager’s unfulfilled bucket list. Amanda did complete one of the items on the list already, and it’s actually that item that becomes the theme of the book in ways you might not at first expect.

There’s a dash of romance that of course I loved. Really loved. I swooned. And sighed blissfully. BUT at the same time it doesn’t overwhelm the plot. And there’s another love story going on that I didn’t expect – and one that hit me right in the feels. Again, I don’t want to give a lot of the plot away because part of the beauty of the novel is joining these two sisters on their journey and taking each step with them. As a side note, can I just say that I love Crystal’s story and I’m so glad the author gave her a voice too. Though Megan remains my favorite! And Caleb… there I go swooning again!

Bottom Line: The Heart Between Us is part travel adventure, part hit-you-in-the-feels women’s fiction, part exploration of sisterhood and part romance. But it’s ALL excellently done. I knew I would enjoy this one; I just didn’t realize I would enjoy it so much. Megan’s story intertwines with her twin sister Crystal’s, her donor Amanda’s, and her best friend Caleb’s as she travels across the globe on a mission to finish a bucket list and find her own footing. Her multi-country, multi-cultural adventures are fun to experience vicariously and they serve well to move the story forward without bogging it down. Overall, the faith message is subtle but woven in so sweetly, and I wouldn’t change a bit of it.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

This is a story about family, love, second chances and faith. If this is not your forte then please keep on moving, unless you're in for something new. The story follows the journey of two sisters, Megan and Crystal, as they travel around the world from Rome to Peru and Australia and more searching for answers to their own problems and bonding at the same time as well.

With the story being told between the alternative point of views of the sisters a lot was taking place The slowness of the book did sometimes discourage me to continue reading but the well-developed plot and characters helped me push through.

The cultures of the countries and cities the sisters visited were correctly represented compared to certain books *clears throat.* Anyways this is a fantastic story to read to renew one's faith and just put a smile on your lips.

Megan Jacobs spent her life being careful, being in the hospital, and watching her sister, Crystal, live life to the fullest, while Megan dreamed about the future, what she would do when she was no longer sick. Three years ago, Megan got a heart transplant, but she’s still playing it safe, living with her parents and working at the library while she yearns for more.

Then, Megan’s heart donor’s parents give her their daughter’s journal, and Megan finds someone she identifies with in the pages. She also finds an unfinished bucket list and decides to fulfill all the items on the list, pushing past her comfort zone as she fights her tendency to play it safe.

When Crystal decides to come with her, Megan hopes they can repair their fragile relationship. With Crystal at her side and her old friend Caleb—a fellow heart transplant recipient—encouraging her, Megan thinks she has all the support she needs to complete her audacious journey. But will she be able to overcome her fears and embrace her new heart?

I related to Megan so much. Her fear of change and of new things is so familiar, as is her desire to travel and to write. So familiar. She’s been through so much, and it’s easier to coast along with the status quo, than to risk failure. Even when Megan has stepped out in faith, she still falters, but the love of those around her propels her forward. This is Crystal’s story, too, the “perfect” sister who is driven by her ambitions even while her marriage is failing. Stepping out in faith and changing is just as hard for Crystal as it is for her sister, but the two don’t even realize they have this in common. I loved this book and highly recommend it!

(Galley provided by Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.)

“But one thing I’ve realized in my years of therapy? If-onlys don’t exist. And I kind of think that’s the perspective I need to embrace if I’m ever going to really live.”

What an amazing story!!! This book has all the components to make it an incredible contemporary women’s fiction/romance novel. The author combines lyrical, fluid writing with a fantastic and fast-moving plot; memorable and ever-so-real characters; heart-wrenching raw emotions; head-on look at some tough issues like depression, psychological ramifications of being medically sick, and sexual abuse; beautiful soul-stirring descriptions of ancient cities in Europe and Africa; and engaging and revealing dialogue amongst the characters. Everyone should read this book!

The story focuses on Megan, who is a heart transplant recipient. Though she had the surgery three years ago, she still lives in fear and hides behind that fear, letting it shadow her joy, hope, and radiance. Despite her lack of confidence in who she is, Megan is sweet and gentle and just wants to be loved. Then there is Caleb, Megan’s friend who also received a heart a few years prior to Megan. He’s dashing, daring, yet so so sweet and tender and firmly grounded in who he is. Their friendship is achingly beautiful and sweet.
Megan’s twin sister Crystal is the opposite of Megan - brash, assertive, type A - who runs from her emotions and difficulties of life. Yet she, too, is fearful and fears losing control. Her husband of five years is understanding, loving, and sweet. His acts of service and love for Crystal are heartfelt and special.
These two couples and their journey, individually and together, had me tearing up at every chapter. The sisters’ nostalgic memories made me choke up, the honest and difficult conversations between the couples and between the sisters had me bawling at times. Whew!

The ending of the book had me begging for more of their story. Will there be a follow up? Please?!?!

I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

4.5 stars - TOP PICK!

I reviewed this book for RT Bookreviews magazine, and you can read my review on their site at the following site: https://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/heart-between-us

Oh my my my. What a beautiful, touching book. I am touched and changed by the beautiful messages in this story.

The Heart Between Us made my heart swell. (Cheesy but true.) These twin sisters, Megan and Crystal, are so distinctive and have differing struggles, yet the health of one affects the entire family.

It was easy to sympathize with Megan (my favorite of the sisters.) I liked Crystal, but it took a bit longer for her to allow me beneath the wall she’d built. And then there is Amanda—who we get to learn about through her journals.

There is so much heart in this story. The writing is superb! Lindsay Harrel is a new-to-me-author, and I plan to read more of her work. I enjoyed the traveling, the romance is light and sweet, and the various emotions evoked from me are too many to count. There were no lulling moments, and I turned the pages faster than I wanted to—especially near the end—because I didn’t want the story to end.

I love women’s fiction as well as Christian fiction, and this story melds them both nicely. The main messages I took from this story is there is value to every moment in life, and broken relationships are meant to be mended. Highly recommended—and have some tissues.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookLook and NetGalley.

The Heart Between Us is my first Lindsay Harrel book and honestly, I really enjoyed the idea of the book. This book is a contemporary book that has elements of Christian faith and it teases the hearts of those with a wanderlust soul.
I really appreciated that this book touches the different aspects of love, family, sacrifices and the abundant generosity of strangers in the most unlikely way.

I loved the journey of these two sisters and their quest in rebuilding the bridge of sisterhood and also simultaneously finding ones individual identity.

Having said that, The Heart Between Us is simple but at times I felt myself skimming through it. To be fair, I was expecting a powerful book but in some areas I found things to be quite childish and juvenile.

All in all, The Heart Between Us is a lovely book filled with the story of courage, conquering ones greatest fear and a whole load of adventure.

Do you want to see the world without leaving the comforts of home? If so this book is for you! Throw in two estranged sisters finding peace and some romance with two hunky men, could it get any better?











Megan and Crystal once were really close but Megan’s heart condition and years of sickness have affected them each differently and ended up tearing them apart. Megan has a received a heart transplant but still feels stuck in her life. After meeting her heart donor’s parents she makes the decision to complete her donor’s bucket list. This starts her journey of self discovery, learning to overcome her fears. Crystal is also feeling stuck, with encouragement from her husband she decides to join Megan on her travel adventure. This starts out awkward as the two sisters haven’t spoken much since their falling out years ago but their adventure forces both to face their fears and tackle feelings that are holding them back from true fulfillment. This adventure helps them rediscover their faith, restore their relationship and find true happiness. Their journey of discovery may start oversees but continues once they return home.



I connected with both sisters in different ways and even though we don’t get inside the guys heads I loved them. Caleb truly understood Megan in a way that few could and I loved the way he encouraged and forced Megan to confront her fears. I could feel Crystal’s husband’s pain at times, it took courage on his part to do the things he did to try to help Crystal. The two last scenes between each sister and their romantic interest had my heart swelling, I absolutely loved the end.



This story touched me in ways that I never imagined. It has made me think about what motivates me and what may be holding me back from doing certain things. I am still thinking about it days after finishing. In addition all the travel and sights mentioned ignited my desire to travel more (not that I needed much help 😉 ).

Finally, Megan Jacobs has a semblance of normal life. After years spent in and out of the hospital, she was able to get a heart transplant from a donor who will have a more profound impact on her life than she anticipated. When her donor's parents give her Amanda's journal complete with a bucket list, Megan decides to embark on a journey around the world to not only to strike the items off but also hopefully find herself.

Crystal Ballinger, Megan's twin is also battling for a semblance of a normal life. She has been recognised as a leading upcoming architect in New York but she is yet to know what that will truly cost her. When her mum tells her of Megan's upcoming travel plans she battles with whether she will be able to forfeit a lifelong dream job opportunity in order to make amends with her estranged sister.

By fulfilling this item on Amanda's bucket list, Megan and Crystal are forced to confront their inner fears that they have been putting off including their estranged relationship which stemmed from Megan's hospitalisation over their childhood years. This book is about growing up and self -discovery especially as a person in their late twenties and early thirties when everyone expects you to be "settled" and yet you still want more out of life.

Lyndsay Harrel uses Amanda's journal entries as the perfect segues to various destinations which avoid bogging down the readers with travel details like airport layovers. It also provided an additional layer of authenticity to the plot and enables more connection with the readers.

With summer just around the corner in the northern hemisphere, this book will definitely get readers dreaming of places that they have always dreamt about and probably prompt them to take a break to somewhere a bit of exotic or at least try something outside of their comfort zone. If you are looking for a palate cleanser after reading a series of historical fiction then this might be the book for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The Heart Between Us by Lindsay Harrel is a heartwarming ( oh, no pun intended) story of recovery nd second chances. I really enjoyed seeing the characters develop into multidimensional personalities as hbook progressed. There was a nice touch of romance, but the relationship between the sisters was such a strong draw. I was really cheering for them to get over their misunderstandings. That’s what we all really look for in a book, isn’t it? one where we care what happens to the characters.

This little story encompasses relationships, travel, romance, and a poignant story of siblings as they embark on a life-changing journey. I don't think I've EVER been to so many countries and continents vicariously through just 1 story. 🗼

I like surprises. The Heart Between Us surprised me in the best way! I expected a cute, fun story about Megan, maybe even a journey of self discovery, with emotional moments, of course. I did NOT expect all that and more as the viewpoints of BOTH Megan and Crystal switch off and tell a poignant story of sister-friendship, healing, and bravery all against a backdrop of continent-hopping and adventure.

The heart-journey of these sisters, both literal and figurative, explores the dynamics of relationships and the honesty required in true connections. This process also shows the beauty of letting go of fears and trusting that God's control is constant, even amid misunderstandings and the sometimes-unfairness of circumstance.

I would be remiss not to mention the sweet romance born of friendship that Megan and Caleb share. It was perfectly timed in Megan's life. I just loved the way Caleb was always a gentleman and so encouraging to Megan.

Thank you to the publisher and author for the review copy. This is my honest review.

True story of a doctor who has a devastating stroke while on a flight, told from the point of view of his wife. She tried to recreate his memories by taking notes during the time he was unconscious up through the year of his recovery.

A nice story, but some parts were mentioned a few times that only needed to be mentioned once. Could have been a lot shorter, but thanks NetGalley for an advance copy in return for ah honest review.

A unique look at completing a bucket list and the rewards it can bring you. Very realistic picture of the lives of sisters. Will bring hope to all who read this book.

THE HEART BETWEEN US by LINDSAY HARREL is an inspirational romance with a really good message of reconciliation and restoration.
When Megan Jacobs visits Mandy Abbott's parents and reads the journal written by the young girl whose heart beats in her chest, her life changes direction. Having always wanted to travel, having read travel books and dreamed about traveling as she lay in hospital, she decides, with not a little trepidation, to fulfill Mandy's bucket list. Her best friend, Caleb, who also has had a heart transplant, believes in her and encourages her. She has always dreamed of being a writer, especially a travel writer, and writes a blog about her journey, which becomes very popular.
Megan's twin sister, Crystal, is persuaded by her fireman husband, Brian, to go with Megan and try to mend her relationship with her sister. Crystal is a successful architect who is ambitious and controlling.
As they travel together, the sisters come to understand one another much better.
Relationships are looked at in this story, the most important of which is the one with the Man who truly is in control of our lives, and who watches over us.
I enjoyed the story and the way it was told. I really can recommend this novel.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Every once in a while I get the notion to stay up and read a whole book. It usually surprises me how fast I can get through one when I have no interruptions. Part of the challenge of reading a whole book in one sitting is finding one that is so enthralling I can't put it down. Something told me The Heart Between Us by Lindsay Harrel was going to be a book like that. So, one night while Billy was traveling for work, I put the boys in bed, and got started. Was I right?

The Heart Between Us is the story of twin sisters Megan and Crystal. Megan was diagnosed with a heart problem at a young age. While Megan spent her life in and out of hospitals, Crystal lived her life to the fullest, experiencing all the joys of being a normal teenager, then growing to adulthood. She went to school, traveled off to college, got a degree, got married, got a great job, and seems to have the perfect life. When Megan got a heart transplant, she thought her life would finally change, and she'd be able to do all the things she'd always dreamed about.

But it's been three years, and she's still living with her parents, and working a part-time job. When Megan runs into an old friend from her hospital days, he encourages her to meet her donor's parents. When Megan meets her donor's parents, they give her a journal that contains their daughter's bucket list--twenty-five things she had hoped to accomplish before she died. Megan decides it's time to take a leap out of her comfort zone, and complete the list. The list will take her around the world, to all the places she always dreamed of visiting. When Crystal asks to go along, Megan can't figure out why. But, Crystal has lost her own way, and her life is a mess. She's convinced that repairing her broken relationship with her sister could help her start to fix all of her other problems. The two estranged sisters set out on an epic journey, that could help them both realize their dreams, or lose them forever.

The more I read, the more I see that I cherish relationships in stories. I like to read a good (clean) romance, but I really enjoy stories that are about other relationships, too. Since I have a sister, I do find sister stories to be very relatable. This one was no exception. The dynamic between Megan and Crystal was so interesting, and not really something I'd thought about before. How would it affect one twin if the other was so ill? What would it be like to watch your healthy sibling enjoy life, while you could only watch from the sidelines? This book really made me think about the sister relationship in a new way.

It was amazing to read about all of Megan and Crystal's adventures, too. The book covers so many beautiful scenes, including the Eifel Tower, Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, multiple sites in London, and a lot more! I felt myself cheering for Megan as she checked each item off her list...even though I think she made a bit of a mistake on her way to that last one! One of the best parts of this book is watching Megan learn to really live for the first time, as her donor heart truly becomes her own heart.

The book took a turn that I really never expected. Actually, it took several. I was never able to guess quite what was going on the character's heads, and that made it even better.

When I turned the last (digital) page, I literally said, "Wow." The Heart Between Us is an incredible book. It's deeper than a love story. It's a story about fear, and being stuck. It's a story about losing who you are to pursue something you don't really want. It's a story about the bond between sisters, and how forgiveness changes everything.

I was right about The Heart Between Us. It's totally worth staying up until 2am to read the whole thing!

If you want a copy of The Heart Between Us click here!



I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own, and a favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I almost passed by this book because I was not
Impressed by the title or the cover, but I decided to read the storyline anyway, and I was intrigued! I am so glad I did and that I got the opportunity to read this.

I have a predilection for genres about family, sensitive topics, and storylines that provoke personal thought and reflection, and this fit into each of these categories.

The characters were constructed and presented in such a talented way early on that it was easy to feel their emotion and feel eager to follow them throughout their journeys to see what would happen next. I rooted both Meg and Crystal on, I felt their sadness, their defeat, their courage, their hope, and their love.

The details of the trip were very descriptive and showed that a lot of research was done to be able to capture the ambiance, the food, and the scenery as well as she did. I enjoyed reading about each leg of the trip and it made me want to take a similar trip!

Though there were multiple storylines occurring, they were entwined easily and seamlessly. There were some twists that I wasn’t expecting and just when I realized (and wearily accepted) that it was going to be a happily ever after story, the story changed and surprised me.

This was an easy read, and an enjoyable read, that I started and finished within the same day. I truly liked this book and I am very happy that I read it.