Thirty-six-year-old Grace McAllister never longed for children. But when she meets Victor Hansen, a handsome, charismatic divorced restaurateur who is father to Max and Ava, Grace decides that, for the right man, she could learn to be an excellent part-time stepmom. After all, the kids live with their mother, Kelli. How hard could it be?
At 13, Ava Hansen is mature beyond her years. Since her parents' divorce, she has been taking care of her emotionally unstable mother and her little brother - she pays the bills, does the laundry, and never complains because she loves her mama more than anyone. And while her father's new girlfriend is nice enough, Ava still holds out hope that her parents will get back together and that they'll be a family again. But only days after Victor and Grace get engaged, Kelli dies suddenly under mysterious circumstances - and soon, Grace and Ava discover that there was much more to Kelli's life than either ever knew.
Narrated by Grace and Ava in the present with flashbacks into Kelli's troubled past, Heart Like Mine is a poignant, hopeful portrait of womanhood, love, and the challenges and joys of family life.
©2013 Amy Hatvany (P)2013 Simon & Schuster, Inc.
"Really Enjoyed It!"
I really like this narrator - she's one of my favorites. That said, I sometimes got confused as to which character was speaking since each chapter is told from a different point of view - Kelly (first wife), Grace (fiancé), and Ava (daughter). On the other hand, I liked hearing from each character's point of view. This book is similar to a Jodi Picoult book & I really enjoyed it, very compelling. I didn't want to stop listening. I felt like I could relate to each character - very well written.