Have you ever had a dream so vivid you wake up believing that dream world exists? Or feeling the same emotions you felt in the dream? The Life Intended is a dream I didn't want to wake from. I was invested in Kate and her story and just wanted to know more. 

After losing her husband, Kate has a hard time moving on despite the encouragement from her sister, best friend and mother. When she finds herself engaged almost twelve years after her husband's death, it becomes clear that she is not quite ready to move on. Cue the dreams. 

This book is about following your dreams, and your instincts. I really enjoyed Kate as a character, she is flawed, hopeful, and just a little bit crazy. Without giving too much away, I really enjoyed Kate and how she grows into her own. Even at 40 she realizes that life can be unexpected and sometimes you end up where you never knew you were supposed to be. 

It was very clear that the author had done her research regarding the foster system and has a basic understanding of therapy (music or otherwise) and that really helped bring the story to life for me. While I can usually forgive situations that aren't quite "realistic" (like people becoming foster parents overnight), it is really nice to read a story where I don't have to stop and fill in the blanks. Harmel does a wonderful job with balancing pertinent information with good story telling so it doesn't feel like I'm going to have to take a test when I'm done. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever suffered a loss and come out the other side. It is heart wrenching, heart warming and all around heart filled. 

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.*

Sigh ah romance. This was exactly what I needed this week, a well crafted famous-person-meets- small-town-girl book. Written on Her Heart was a delightful read full of great scenery and some interesting characters.

It is easy to write about friends that are great, that have your back at every turn and are there to support you. This is not that book. Andi's friends are complicated, selfish and some of them ultimately aren't friends at all. It was a nice break from a lot of the other romance books I've read lately. I hope that some of the next books in the series go into more detail about these characters because some of the issues seem to have been a little glossed over in this story.

Andi and Ford's chemistry jumps off of the page from the get go. I enjoyed the slow build of their relationship and the fact that she tried to salvage her current relationship despite her attraction to Ford. Not every relationship starts on the best of terms, but Andi needed to realize on her own terms that her boyfriend was not everything she deserved.

I really enjoyed reading this story and am looking forward to more from this author. Highly recommended.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.*