A Healing Heart & A Healing Spirit by Melissa A. Hanson (Review Briefs)

Review briefs are reviews that are on the shorter end. Normally I use them when I need to post a review, but don't have time or want to write a full one.

A Healing Heart

(Riverview Series #1)
by Melissa A. Hanson

YA Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 270 Pages

July 4th 2015

Summary

On a bitter cold winter night Bailey Walsh’s family was killed in a traffic accident. Two years later as she lives with her aunt and uncle in Southern California, Bailey is still plagued by the nightmares of that terrible night. Everywhere around her are reminders of what she lost. Even her aunt, in a cruel twist of fate, is not just her mom’s sister, but her identical twin. Babysitting Riley, a spunky two-year old, is a sweet distraction and one constant light in her life. One day as she takes Riley to the park she meets Collin McKenna, a senior at her high school and her life is changed forever as he helps her find herself and realize her life is worth living. As the romance between them grows her broken heart begins to heal. However, still nagging in the back of her conscious is the fear that her new found happiness could come crashing down and she could lose everything she loves, yet again. Outside forces begin to tear them apart and Bailey must learn to trust in herself and realize that she is worthy of happiness. That sometimes love and healing comes in unexpected forms.

  

My Review

A HEALING HEART was a fairly quick and sweet read. There were parts that I liked and characters that I liked, but then there were other parts that really lagged for me, where the conversation felt off or where there wasn't a lot of depth, more a detailed description of the character's daily routines. It also through me a little that there was a third POV thrown in that I felt almost would have worked better not to have been, making the story just a little more mysterious. It felt a little forced, as did the relationships, and I wanted it to feel more natural. The romance also moved quickly and was a your-the-one-meant-for-me type almost right off. There was a lot of potential. Just needed more work in the depth of the characters, the dialogue, and letting the struggles and issues settle more. 

Content: Some innuendo and mild swearing.
Source: Received a complimentary copy through ebooksforreview.com, which did not affect my review in any way.

A Healing Spirit

(Riverview Series #2)
by Melissa A. Hanson

YA Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 288 Pages

August 16th 2015

Summary

A freak ski accident brings nineteen-year old Mia Kinney within minutes of death. Hurt and scared, Mia is calmed by the southern drawl and clear green eyes of her rescuer.

Twenty-one year old Dylan Blackburn is one of the first Ski Patrol members on the scene. As his patient is airlifted to the local trauma center, he can’t shake her from his thoughts.

As Mia fights for her life, Dylan, is haunted by the blond hair beauty, and knows he needs to make sure she’s going to be okay.

With a troubled past Dylan has vowed never to completely open himself up to another girl, but Mia continues to knock down every wall he’s constructed. When his past arrives at his front door and threatens once again someone that he loves, will Dylan be able to save Mia yet again? Or will he be too late this time?

A story of love, friendship, and the determination to turn a horrible experience into something worthwhile.

"A Healing Spirit" is book 2 of the Riverview Series, however each is a standalone story.

  

My Review

A HEALING SPIRIT started off really well for me. I liked the tension at the beginning and that everything wasn't smooth. Then the mother's POV was thrown in and that felt really off to me for this type of story. I did get back into it as Mia recovers, but then the romance rushed in and took things over. Some of the same issues I had with the first book in this series seemed to  have carried over. The romance was rushed and the character felt like they were meant for each other - brought on my gag reflex because it was so cheesy in parts. Sometimes this does work and I did like the main characters, but here it still felt forced. Some of the reactions didn't feel realistic. The dialogue was flat. The hero was supposed to have a Southern accent, but the reader is told that without him actually having it. I wanted to hear that in his voice with all the "Yes, Mams" and such. I think that the characters needed more of their own unique voices. If you didn't have the names at the top of the chapters or sections, you almost could believe the same character was talking the whole way through. There was some suspense and danger in this one, which was different than the first book in this series and that added a little tension. Again, there was potential here. It just fell flat for me.

Content: Some innuendo, detailed making out, violence, and mild swearing.
Source: Received a complimentary copy through ebooksforreview.com, which did not affect my review in any way.

What do you think? Do these sound like stories you'd like to read?