The Hearts We Mend – Kathryn Springer – Banister Falls #2 – Zondervan – Published 8 March 2016
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Synopsis
Thirteen years ago, Evie’s firefighterhusband was killed in the line of duty, leaving her to raise their young son, Cody, alone. Now, Cody is marrying the love of his life, and as he packs up his belongings, the house feels as empty as Evie’s heart. But for all her planning and mad organizational skills, Evie could never have anticipated the dramatic shift her life is about to make.
Tattooed, rough-around-the-edgesJack raises quite a few eyebrows in the tight-knit community of Banister Falls. Where Evie’s life is stream-lined, Jack’s approach to living is moment-by-moment. But as Evie gets drawn into Jack’s world—a world that isn’t as safe or predictable as the one she’s worked so hard to create—he challenges her to open her eyes to the problems outside the walls of the church.
Jack doesn’t make Evie feel comfortable, but he definitely makes her feel something. Something she hasn’t felt since Max passed away—or, maybe ever. Because even though Jack isn’t anything like her late husband, he just might be everything she needs.
My thoughts
Loved, loved, loved this book!! Absolutely stunning, The Hearts We Mend is a beautiful book to read and treasure. There is just something about Kathryn Springer’s writing that makes characters spring from the page and words come to life. I wanted to savour this book and inevitably ended up reading it even faster as I couldn’t put it down.
The Hearts We Mend is the second book in the Banister Falls series. I loved book one, The Dandelion Field, and when I saw that Kathryn Springer had a new book due for release I didn’t at first realise it would follow on from Dandelion Field. Needless to say I was very excited when I realised Evie, mother of Cody, is the same Evie from Dandelion Field, of which I wrote “achingly raw and yet full of hope…. The Dandelion Field is a wonderfully written and a truly moving story. A perfect ending, and yet I want more. So much more of the loveable, flawed characters, simple and yet deep faith, and the little, touching moments.” Guess I got my wish!! And The Hearts We Mend fulfils each of these just as much as The Dandelion Field did. I’m just hoping there will be another book in the series.
The Hearts We Mend picks up where The Dandelion Field left off. Evie, Cody’s mother, is busy working at the church as well as organising a wedding, so she is a little worried when the church custodian suddenly takes a holiday and is replaced by a young, admittedly handsome, guy she just happened to accuse of trespassing not too long ago.
But Jack’s presence in Evie’s well-ordered life is opening her to new experiences and filling the loneliness by encouraging her to take chances and reach out to others.
I just love the characters in this book. They are flawed, special, unique and seem as real as you and me. I love catching up with familiar faces from the last book, Dan, Gin, Dan’s family and of course Cody and Raine, and I loved meeting some new characters, especially Jack, his niece Lily and his assorted neighbours. Jack is one of the most loveable, down to earth and charming-in-all-the-right-ways kind of guys. The romance that springs up between Jack and Evie is so enjoyable to experience, from a shaky start to Evie slowly falling for Jack’s kindness and the way he includes everyone around him.
I love how faith is seamlessly woven into the story. The characters talk about God and prayer in everyday conversations, it is an integral part of their lives. 
I’m really hoping there will be another book in this series (please, please, please???). I can’t wait to return to Banister Falls, see another couple fall in love and continue the story of the other characters (though topping Jack and Evie as a couple is going to be very hard to do). While these books could be read as standalones I would recommend reading them in series order as it will make a lot more sense to follow the characters through their adventures chronologically. Besides, they are such good books there is no reason not to read them both. Very highly recommended.
The publishers provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
** The above quotes were taken from an uncorrected advanced readers copy and so may differ from the final text.
More information
Category: Fiction
Genre: Christian contemporary.
Themes: Family. Faith. Romance. Ministry.
Published: 8 March 2016 by Zondervan.
Format: Paperback, ebook. 320 pages.
ISBN: 9780310339724
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If you liked this try book one in the series:
The Dandelion Field – Kathryn Springer
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