OK, so it's not the best written book in the world. But it's cute, the love story is sweet, and it's certainly not the WORST written thing in the world. It's an easy read and even though my eyes glazed over certain parts due to boredom, they were drawn back enough to give the story a solid two stars. The author has marvelous potential! Also, it's easy to relate to the main characters, and the dialogue is nice.

Spun with irresistible dialogue and a unique premise, The Heart Between Us is a unique canvas of women's fiction, threaded with romance, that transplants the reader to a buoyant collage of European locales.

A bucket list adventure underscored by deeper tenets of faith, friendship and the bonds that tether us together even as we drift apart.

A colourful thesis of dreams and reconciling passion with circumstance, this will appeal to those with a hefty dollop of wanderlust as well as the hopeless romantics amongst us: romanticism of place and human interconnection balance each well-written page.

This book is a great heartwarming tale of two twin sisters and their different lives. Megan is a cautious young woman who tries to do everything right due to her heart transplant a few years before. Crystal is her sister who is an overachiever who pushes herself to do everything to achieve what she thinks are her dreams. Both sisters have endured through hardships due to Megan’s sickness and heart transplant. Through the discovery of Megan’s heart donor and her bucket list, Megan and Crystal are able to discover themselves as they journey through the list. This book allows the reader to believe anyone can change positively, and that through second chances anyone can become the person they aspire to be. I highly recommend this book! This was the first book I have read by Ms. Harrel, but I will be reading more of her books.
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, this is my own opinion.

This book took me a bit to get into. The point of view switches from one sister to the other made it somewhat difficult to get into. Just when I would get interested in one sister's story it would switch to the other and it slowed the progress of the story down a little. I thought the premise of the book was great. I enjoyed watching the sisters relationship heal after years of misunderstanding, hurt feelings and fear. I loved the religious aspect of their healing but felt like even more could have been done with this but at the same time the book doesn't feel like it was meant to be too deep so perhaps it was just right as it is. I enjoyed the brief descriptions of the places they traveled and wished there was more substance to be gleaned from each of the places and events that happened. I guess I felt like this book had potential to be a great, deep, profound, healing type book but didn't quite get there. It touched on weighty topics but didn't dig in and explore them that much. It was a lovely read and had a great message but not something that will change my life or cause me to think too much.

3.5 stars -
To be absolutely honest, it took me some time to really grab what was happening with the plot with this book. In fact there was a moment in which I considered putting the book down for good. I'm glad that I stuck with it.

Twin sisters Crystal & Megan are so far apart, physically - emotionally. They haven't spoken or seen each other in years. One a talented junior architect for a prestigious Manhattan firm. Married and struggling to balance that ever seeming challenge of a healthy relationship between work and home life. Brian her husband patiently has stood by as she continually puts him second to the all encompassing dream of senior architect. How much longer can he put his plans and dreams on hold? When will Crystal ever find the time for the life they thought they would have together?

Megan, recovering heart transplant patient, is now healthy but living her life, literally in so much fear that she choose 'safe' over adventure. Living with her parents and working a go nowhere job at the local library - this story begins with a chance meeting with Caleb. The one man she has always admired. Fellow transplant patient and support person. She has turned down opportunity with him before, but this moment is a turning point of sorts and Megan sets out to meet the parents of her heart donor. A journal, a bucket list, an opportunity to reconnect with her estranged twin. A trip of a lifetime around the world becomes the main focus of the book.

I had hoped for more interaction between Megan & Caleb especially. There were times when I felt it fell a little monotonous. But as this journey starts to bear it's end, things pick up and it pulls you right in.

Clever concept of this very real struggle that heart disease and the opportunity to get a transplant and all the strain that has put on the two sisters. A clever title, and two wonderful peaceful endings. I appreciated the reminder that we cannot control most of the situations we find ourselves in during this life on earth. When we spend our time worrying about that which we can't control we are failing to put our trust in God, and all that He can offer. Even if His plan is not to spare the hurt, He will provide the love and hope.

Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC. Look out for this book in the New Year.

A great read....Christian fiction without being preachy. An interesting story line and and an all too realistic broken family relationship. Sometimes we just need to get out of our own way to heal a broken bond and move into a happier future.. Let go, and let God.