Our Kept Hearts

Waldron Hearts Series, Book 1

By: Tennille Marie

Narrated by: Elizabeth Schmidt

Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

A coming-of-age novel, where sisters learn that even motherless daughters must grow up and become women one day.

Arkansas, 1953. Nine-year-old Hazel McKay knows little girls need a mother. So, when her mother decides to leave her and her little sister, Ruthie, without any reason except she wants more, Hazel feels like her life is falling apart. With their father working out of town most days, Hazel and Ruthie are left on their own in the little house in the middle of the woods, where they find more than just animals and birds hiding in the forest.

Meanwhile, not far away, 10-year-old Joel lives with his alcoholic father. Caught in a struggle to survive his father's volatile nature and the desire to satisfy his curiosity about the little girls that live in the house in the woods, Joel finds a world of friendship and love he never knew existed.

Together, the three encounter school dances, heartbreaks, first loves, and a world turned upside down by the threat of nuclear war. With a new beginning on the horizon, Hazel, Ruthie, and Joel find their happiness is in jeopardy when tragedy strikes, and they are forced to make a choice. Bury a secret so deep no one will ever know the truth or lose everything they hold dear.

©2023 Tennille Gilreath (P)2023 Tennille Gilreath

Romance tinged with Trauma

In 1953 life is hard for most but Hazel and Ruthie both struggle with their mother’s abandonment and their neighbor, Joel struggles with his bitter drunken father who blames him for his mother’s death. Together they provide support, fun, and finally love until their world is threatened. Now they must bond together and keep a secret that would destroy everything if known.

The author, Tennille Marie, depicts the emotional trauma of abandonment and explores the emotional and physical demands such an experience creates in childhood and follows into adulthood. The relationships and personalities of each character were thoroughly explored, accurately reflecting depth and complexity. Each character was fully developed and evolved. Tennille is detailed in building her storyline and plot twists.

Elizabeth Schmidt, the narrator, provides a wonderful performance. She accurately captures and projects the personality of each character and situation. Her level and breadth of energy are intriguing, carrying the storyline and plot twists from beginning to end. Her delivery is intentional, infusing intrigue and emotion.

Overall, this is a great book! I found it intriguing, engaging, and captivating!

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.

A sweet story of life

Our Kept Hearts is a sweet story that captures your attention with kind, light hearted characters in a quaint small town. The story creates a feeling of being a part of their family as you rejoice, cry, gasp, and long for only goodness for them. I highly recommend this cheerful book for any age!

Beautiful story of sisterhood & young love.

This book was beautiful from start to finish. It centers around two sisters Hazel & Ruthie growing up in the 50's & 60's adjusting to life, hormones, hopes & dreams, & ever changing world around them. Their mom abandons them, leaving them to be raised by a mostly absent father who's rarely around due to his job. With the help of their neighbor, Joel, who's from an abusive home himself, they all bond together through the years. They try to navigate coming of age events like pep rallies, dating, & Friday Night Lights while handling the Cuban missile crisis & the Vietnam War. During it all, they mainly only have each other for support.

I listened to the audio book of this & I found I really enjoyed it. I usually don't get pulled in with audio books they leave my mind drifting away, but I didn't have that with this story. The narrator did a great job giving a voice to each character.

This book reminded me a lot of a mix of Pretty in Pink & The Wonder Years blended together. I love Americana stories of WWII to Vietnam Era time periods & this story captured it all. It made you feel those raw teenage emotions. It made you feel the love, hurt, & fear of family troubles, romance, & living in an era of political & civil unrest. It really made you think how life would have been living through those events. The three lead characters are all amazing. I can't wait to see what happens in this series. The author did an amazing job from start to finish. I highly recommend giving this book a try if you love heartfelt coming of age & family stories that are timeless.

Beautifully written and heartfelt story with memorable characters- Loved it!

I was given a free promo code from the author for my honest review of her debut novel. This is a story set in small town America in the 1950’s that introduces you to three young children faced with heartbreaking family issues and their journeys into adolescence and early adulthood. The author did a great job of bringing the characters to life and taking me back to a simpler time. I listened to the audio book and the narrator did a fantastic job as well. Tennille Marie is a gifted storyteller and I am looking forward to the next book in this trilogy.